The official launch ceremony of a 60 MW wind farm in the Shelek corridor of Almaty region, a unique region for the development of renewable energy potential, has taken place today. 

The event gathered together Almassadam Satkaliyev, the CEO of Samruk-Kazyna JSC, Bolat Akchulakov,  the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan,  Marat Sultangaziev, the Akim of Almaty region, Serik Tyutebayev, Acting CEO of Samruk-Energy JSC as well as Zhong Heixiang, Project Partner, President of the Chinese company “PowerChina Resources Ltd” and Lui Yi, the Deputy Consul General of China in Almaty.

The new wind farm will generate 226 million kWh of electricity per year. The plant includes 24 wind power plants, each with a nominal capacity of 2.5 MW. A substation and related infrastructure have been built, overhead power lines have been brought in. Modified wind turbines of one of the world’s leading manufacturers, GoldWind, have been installed. The project cost is KZT37.4 billion.

Within the framework of the event, a Memorandum of cooperation was also signed between Samruk-Kazyna JSC and PowerChina Resources Ltd, providing for the implementation of the second phase of the project with an increase in the capacity of the wind farm to 300 MW.

According to the experts of Samruk-Energy JSC, despite the current energy capacities in Almaty and Almaty region, the region is energy deficient. The region’s demand for electricity is covered by its own energy sources by only 50%, and the deficit is filled from external energy producers.  

“On the eve of the visit of the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping to Kazakhstan, together with PowerChina we are launching a major project – a wind power plant. I am confident that the WPP project in the Shelek corridor will become another example of a successful partnership with China in the current issue of ensuring energy security and development of alternative energy sources. The station with a capacity of 60 MW with further expansion to 300 MW will provide clean electricity to the south-eastern regions of Kazakhstan”, - Almassadam Satkaliyev underlined.

In addition to the production characteristics, the project is important for the region for its environmental component. The construction and launch of the power plant will reduce up to 206 thousand tons of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as replace about 89 thousand tons of conventional fuel per year. 

"There are many natural opportunities for the production of “green” electricity in the Almaty region. In addition to the potential of the sun and wind, Samruk-Energy pays special attention to the development of hydropower, as evidenced by the completed project for the construction of the Moynak HPP. The company’s portfolio includes a number of projects for the construction of new hydroelectric power plants. In particular, the construction of the counter-regulating Kerbulak HPP on the Ili River, HPP-29 on the Shelek River, reconstruction and modernization of the cascade of the AlES HPP”, - the Head of Samruk-Energy JSC said.

In total, according to the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 142 renewable energy facilities are operating in Kazakhstan as of July 2022. Since the beginning of the year, 8 facilities with a total capacity of 322 MW have been commissioned in Kazakhstan. By the end of 2022, it is planned to commission 13 facilities with a total installed capacity of 153 MW.

For information: Power Construction Corporation of China Limited (Power China) is one of the largest design and construction companies in China (one of the hundred largest companies in the country and 500 largest companies in the world). Founded in 2011 by the decision of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, the controlling stake belongs to the state represented by SASAC, the headquarters is located in Beijing.

Power Construction Corporation of China specializes in the design and construction of energy and transport facilities (hydroelectric power plants, thermal, wind and solar power plants, electrical networks and substations, railways, highways, port and sewage treatment plants), it is also engaged in the production and installation of energy equipment, consulting, real estate transactions, financial services and investments.