QAZAQ GREEN.  Kazakhstan’s Senate has approved a bill ratifying an intergovernmental agreement with China on the implementation of renewable energy projects, according to Kazinform.

The agreement, signed in November 2024 on the sidelines of COP29, is aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in addressing climate change through the development of renewable energy and sustainable growth initiatives in Kazakhstan.

Under the deal, the two countries plan to develop three large-scale renewable energy facilities with a combined installed capacity of 1.8 GW. The portfolio includes two wind farms totaling 1.5 GW and a 300 MW solar power plant.

The projects will be located in the Pavlodar, Karaganda and Turkestan regions, selected for their strong wind and solar potential and their ability to integrate additional capacity into Kazakhstan’s Unified Energy System. Construction is scheduled for completion between 2027 and 2029. Samruk-Energy will act as co-investor on the Kazakh side.

Total investment is expected to exceed $2 billion. The projects are projected to create more than 200 permanent jobs and around 2,000 temporary positions during construction.

According to Senator Olga Bulavkina, local authorities in two of the regions are currently allocating land for design and survey work. In Turkestan region, a land plot has already been secured and construction of the solar plant has begun.

Given the scale and technical complexity of the projects, the law предусматривает special implementation terms. These include the signing of power purchase agreements without renewable energy auctions or other competitive bidding procedures, tariff approval in foreign currency, and participation in the balancing market without undergoing standard assessment procedures.

The Kazakh side will also provide developers with several guarantees and forms of support, including the ability to meet foreign currency obligations and receive revenue in foreign currency, assistance in obtaining state permits, and land allocation without tenders. In turn, developers must demonstrate sufficient financial and technical capacity, as well as proven experience in developing, financing and operating renewable energy projects in Central Asia.

The law also establishes cooperation between Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy and China’s State Energy Administration, along with relevant companies, to support long-term energy sector development. The parties acknowledge the immunities, privileges and exemptions granted to central banks under international agreements and national legislation.

Lawmakers expect the projects to support Kazakhstan’s target of reaching a 15% share of renewables in the electricity mix by 2030 and to contribute to the country’s carbon neutrality goal under its Low Carbon Development Strategy to 2060.