Kazakhstan sees sharp rise in coal demand for new power plants by 2032Kazakhstan's new power generation projects will require more than 19 million tonnes of coal annually by 2032, the Energy Ministry said Monday following a meeting with the country's largest coal mining companies.The ministry said it is developing a national project to expand coal-fired generation, aiming to cement coal's role as a strategic asset for Kazakhstan, which holds more than 33 billion tons of reserves. The initiative extends beyond power generation to encompass comprehensive industry development, including attracting investment, modernizing infrastructure, adopting environmental technologies and strengthening the workforce.Bogatyr Komir, one of Kazakhstan's leading coal producers, plans to gradually increase output from 42.7 million tonnes in 2024 to 45.2 million tonnes by 2026, with a target of 56.5 million tonnes by 2032. The company will invest 360 billion tenge through 2032 to build new cyclical-flow technology facilities, purchase equipment and modernize operations.Shubarkol Komir is also committed to boosting production, targeting 16.1 million tonnes in 2026. The company's investment strategy includes 95.5 billion tenge for technical upgrades and digitalization. Plans call for completing the second phase of a cyclical-flow overburden complex, a 49.4 billion tenge equipment overhaul, and deploying innovations such as Hovermap 3D mapping systems and robotic dump trucks.The Energy Ministry previously developed a national plan to expand coal-fired generation through 2030, calling for adding and modernizing 7.6 gigawatts of capacity with more than 8 trillion tenge in funding.The plan includes building six major power facilities: the Ekibastuz GRES-3 plant and thermal power plants in Kurchatov, Kokshetau, Semey, Ust-Kamenogorsk and Zhezkazgan. Authorities are also exploring upgrades for existing plants, including Ekibastuz GRES-2 and the Aksu power station. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX