QAZAQ GREEN. Auctions were held on September 23, 2024, to select renewable energy projects for the construction of a 100 MW solar power plant in the Southern Zone of Kazakhstan’s Unified Electric Power System, KOREM reports.

The Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan set the maximum auction price at 34.61 tenge per kWh (excluding VAT).

A total of 34 bids were submitted during the auction, with seven companies qualifying to participate. Altogether, 700 MW worth of project applications were filed. The price offers ranged from 34.61 to 15.93 tenge per kWh (excluding VAT), resulting in a significant 53.97% reduction from the initial price.

The auction's winner was Damona LLP, which will construct a 100 MW solar power plant in the Almaty region at the final auction price of 15.93 tenge per kWh (excluding VAT).

To ensure transparency, observers from the Energy Ministry of Kazakhstan, KAZENERGY, the Kazakhstan Electric Power Association, Qazaq Green Renewable Energy Association, EcoJer, Atameken, the Asian Development Bank, USAID, and the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) monitored the auction. Observers confirmed that the electronic trading system, operated by KOREM JSC, was fully transparent and in compliance with auction rules.

The next auction, scheduled for September 24, 2024, will select projects for a 20 MW solar power plant in the Southern Zone of Kazakhstan’s Unified Electric Power System.