{"id":2846588,"version":0,"headline":"Kazakhstan announces new coal-fired energy, AI plans","dateModified":"2026-07-01T16:02:32Z","datePublished":"2026-07-01T16:02:25Z","articleBody":"<article><p class=\"lead\">Kazakhstan has announced a new energy security plan that includes adding coal-fired capacity through 2035 and modernising its coal-fired fleet to help achieve artificial intelligence (AI) goals.</p><p>The central Asian country plans to add 26.3GW of generation capacity by 2035, of which 13.3GW is targeted for commissioning by 2029, energy minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said today. </p><p>Kazakhstan aims to commission 7.4GW of coal-fired capacity and 5.9GW of renewables to meet its 2029 target. An infrastructure overhaul could meet Kazakhstan's power needs as early as 2027, and create a sustainable surplus going forward, according to the ministry.</p><p>New coal-fired capacity by 2029 will allow Kazakhstan to build energy-intensive AI infrastructure and large data centres, the ministry said. This builds on a broader <a href=\"https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2805292\">$15.5bn project</a> to boost coal-fired power approved in March.</p><p>The ministry of AI and digital development — established in September — will work with the energy ministry and state-owned Kazakhtelecom to develop AI data centres. </p><p>The energy ministry confirmed today that 19 projects were expected to be part of the broader plan — eight newbuild coal-fired plants and 11 overhauls. </p><p>Kazakhstan has 27.1GW of power capacity — 13.7GW coal-fired, 7.1GW gas-fired, 2.5GW hydro and 3.8GW other renewables. </p><p>Total power generation is expected to reach at least 126.5TWh this year, the energy ministry said. Generation totalled 123.1TWh last year, and consumption 124.6TWh. </p><p class=\"bylines\">By Shreyashi Sanyal </p></article>","dateline":"London, 1 July (Argus)","license":"<footer><p><br> Send comments and request more information at <a href=\"mailto:feedback@argusmedia.com?subject=Argus Direct article feedback&body=I am contacting you regarding Kazakhstan announces new coal-fired energy, AI plans, available at http://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/cs-24713399.\" target=\"_parent\"> feedback@argusmedia.com </a></p><p><i> Copyright © 2026. <a href=\"http://www.argusmedia.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Argus Media group</a>. All rights reserved. </i></p></footer>","copyrightHolder":"Argus Media group","copyrightYear":2026,"taxonomy":{"contexts":[{"name":"Fundamentals","children":[{"name":"Demand","children":[]},{"name":"Supply","children":[]}]},{"name":"Infrastructure","children":[{"name":"Plant construction","children":[]},{"name":"Plant proposal","children":[]}]}],"regions":[{"name":"FSU","children":[{"name":"Kazakhstan","children":[]}]}],"sectors":[{"name":"Coal","children":[{"name":"Steam coal","children":[]}]}]},"pullQuote":null,"newsType":"Daily news","language":"en-GB","keywords":null,"isFree":true,"isFeatured":false,"body":"<p class=\"lead\">Kazakhstan has announced a new energy security plan that includes adding coal-fired capacity through 2035 and modernising its coal-fired fleet to help achieve artificial intelligence (AI) goals.</p><p>The central Asian country plans to add 26.3GW of generation capacity by 2035, of which 13.3GW is targeted for commissioning by 2029, energy minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said today. </p><p>Kazakhstan aims to commission 7.4GW of coal-fired capacity and 5.9GW of renewables to meet its 2029 target. An infrastructure overhaul could meet Kazakhstan's power needs as early as 2027, and create a sustainable surplus going forward, according to the ministry.</p><p>New coal-fired capacity by 2029 will allow Kazakhstan to build energy-intensive AI infrastructure and large data centres, the ministry said. This builds on a broader <a href=\"https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2805292\">$15.5bn project</a> to boost coal-fired power approved in March.</p><p>The ministry of AI and digital development — established in September — will work with the energy ministry and state-owned Kazakhtelecom to develop AI data centres. </p><p>The energy ministry confirmed today that 19 projects were expected to be part of the broader plan — eight newbuild coal-fired plants and 11 overhauls. </p><p>Kazakhstan has 27.1GW of power capacity — 13.7GW coal-fired, 7.1GW gas-fired, 2.5GW hydro and 3.8GW other renewables. </p><p>Total power generation is expected to reach at least 126.5TWh this year, the energy ministry said. Generation totalled 123.1TWh last year, and consumption 124.6TWh. </p><p class=\"bylines\">By Shreyashi Sanyal </p>","lead":"Kazakhstan has announced a new energy security plan that includes adding coal-fired capacity through 2035 and modernising its coal-fired fleet to help achieve artificial intelligence (AI) goals.","cmsId":"24713399","source":"Censhare"}