QAZAQ GREEN. KEGOC’s Board of Directors has approved the EPC contract for the project titled "Integration of Western Kazakhstan’s Energy System with the UES of Kazakhstan: Construction of Power Grid Facilities," according to a KEGOC press release.

The integration of the Western Zone with the main part of Kazakhstan’s UES will enhance energy security in the western regions of the country. Additionally, it will enable the use of the Western Zone's flexible generation capacity to offset electricity and capacity imbalances in the Northern and Southern zones of the energy system. The Western Zone’s capacity will be increased to 500 MW.

This investment project follows President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s directive to strengthen the Southern Zone of the power system and develop a strategy to enhance transit links between the Western regions, ultimately merging with Kazakhstan’s UES.

The project involves the construction of a 500 kV overhead transmission line from the 500 kV Karabatan substation to the Ulke substation, spanning 604.3 kilometers. It also includes the reconstruction and expansion of the 500 kV Ulke substation and the construction of a 500 kV switchyard at the Karabatan substation. The project is expected to be completed by December 2027.

"Contractors have been selected in accordance with the competitive procedures outlined in the Procurement Rules of Samruk-Kazyna JSC. The project will be financed by KEGOC’s own funds and loans from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development," the company stated.