Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

The investments in Kazakhstan's power generation are estimated at $54 billion by 2030, Kazenergy Association CEO Aset Magauov told Trend Agency on January 22.

"The investments are estimated at $54 billion on the baseline scenario and at $36.5 billion in the conservative scenario by 2030," he said.

Magauov noted that in any case the main directions of development should be the introduction of new environmental requirements for the amount of harmful emissions of the Thermal Power Plants (TPP).

"Furthermore, we set a goal to bring the ash collection from coal based TPPs to 99.5 percent and implement projects for ash and slag waste collection, and to construct new coal based power units with ultra supercritical steam parameters," he said.

Magauov went on to say Kazakhstan plans to construct gas turbine/gas engine generator plants, as well as nuclear power plants with three power units with capacity of 300 MW or a power unit with 1,000-MW capacity.

"A significant attention will be paid to expansion of flexible capacities, construction of counter regulators for existing hydropower and gas-turbine thermal power plants to cover peak traffic," he said.

Also, Kazakhstan intends to diversify the structure of generating capacities.

Magauov said currently Kazakhstan faces a significant deprecation of power grid equipment funds and has a dependency on neighboring countries.

"It is important to create the galaxy topology with arrangement of united power grid stability centers in the territory of Kazakhstan to ensure the sustainable development of power supply network. We also set a goal to create Kazakhstan's intellectual energy system based on SmartGrid technology," he noted.

Kazakhstan's vast majority of power generation comes from coal-fired power plants, concentrated in the north of the country near the coal producing regions.