BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. The World Bank Group (WBG) is poised to equip Kazakhstan with tools to move the decarbonization agenda forward, Andrei Mikhnev, World Bank Country Manager for Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, said in an exclusive interview with Trend.
"Looking ahead, we are poised to equip the Government of Kazakhstan with the necessary tools to move the decarbonization agenda forward. This includes our recent Partnership for Market Implementation (PMI) grant agreement aimed at improving Kazakhstan's Emissions Trading Scheme and broadening carbon pricing mechanisms. We remain committed to supporting energy sector advancements, including investments in transmission and distribution infrastructure, new green energy generation, and fostering regional cooperation and energy trade," he said.
As he noted, WBG's commitment to renewable energy in Kazakhstan is multifaceted, addressing both policy and practical implementation aspects.
"Our Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR), released in 2022, delves into decarbonization pathways and their economic implications. Currently, we are offering technical assistance to develop sectoral roadmaps aligned with Kazakhstan's Low Emissions Development Strategy. As you may know, Kazakhstan’s municipal buildings are among the most energy-intensive globally, per unit area. The Kazakhstan energy efficiency project, which concluded in 2021, demonstrated success in reducing energy consumption and could be expanded nationally to align with Kazakhstan's strategic goals," he said.
Mikhnev pointed out that the ongoing efforts of the World Bank include sectoral programmatic technical assistance that concentrates on enhancing energy efficiency, fostering the development of small-scale solar projects, integrating renewable energy to ensure grid stability, and modernizing hydropower plants.
"Additionally, we are focused on reforms related to energy sector tariffs and regulations," he concluded.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan's renewable energy installations had generated 6.675 billion kWh of electricity by the end of 2023. This volume accounts for 5.92 percent of total electrical energy production in 2023.
The country currently has 147 renewable energy facilities (over 100 kW) with an installed capacity of 2,903.54 MW: 59 wind power plants with a capacity of 1,409.55 MW; 46 solar power plant facilities with a capacity of 1,222.61 MW; 39 hydroelectric power plants with a capacity of 269.605 MW; and three biogas power plant facilities with a capacity of 1.77 MW.
Furthermore, 16 renewable energy facilities with a total installed capacity of 495.57 MW were put into operation in 2023: 12 wind farms with a total capacity of 437.1 MW in the Akmola and Zhetysu regions, 2 hydroelectric power plants with a total capacity of 3.7 MW in the Almaty and Turkestan regions, and two solar power plants with a capacity of 54.77 MW in the Turkistan region.
Hence, a total of 25 renewable energy projects with a combined 599.85 MW of capacity are expected to be commissioned by 2027.