Kazakhstan has reassigned three CHP plant projects to a Kazakh-Singaporean consortium, formally ending Russia’s involvement, the energy ministry confirmed.
Kazakhstan has reassigned the construction of three combined heat and power (CHP) plants in Kokshetau, Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk to a Kazakh-Singaporean consortium, formally ending Russia’s participation after a prolonged period of uncertainty.
The decision, confirmed by Vice Minister of Energy Sungat Yessimkhanov, signals a shift in how large-scale energy infrastructure projects in the country are financed and delivered.
EPC contracts for the Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk plants were signed in early 2026, allowing work to move into an active phase in the coming months. Orders for key equipment are expected to be placed in May, while engineering surveys and site preparation will proceed in parallel.
Deliveries are scheduled from the third quarter of 2027, with commissioning targeted for the fourth quarter of 2029. The projects will incorporate modern technological solutions, including Chinese components.
The scale of investment remains substantial. The plant in Kokshetau is estimated to cost around $750 million, while the facilities in Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk are expected to reach roughly $850 million each.
Officials have emphasised that the projects will proceed without direct budget financing, pointing instead to alternative investment structures.
The three plants were initially conceived as joint projects with Russia within the framework of bilateral energy cooperation. In November 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin announced plans to formalise the arrangement through an intergovernmental agreement, which envisaged Russian involvement in design, equipment supply and concessional financing.
However, implementation stalled as key financial terms remained unresolved. Although a ratification bill was introduced in parliament in late 2024, progress was repeatedly delayed amid ongoing discussions over subsidised financing mechanisms.
By mid-2025, the government had begun to consider alternative investors. First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar stated that the primary obstacle lay in securing export financing, stressing that the issue was not linked to sanctions but rather to financial arrangements.
By the end of 2025, uncertainty persisted. Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said Kazakhstan had not received a response from the Russian side regarding concessional financing for two of the projects.
In response, the government moved to implement the Kokshetau plant independently through the state-owned company Samruk-Energy, while continuing to reassess options for the remaining facilities.
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