Kazakhstan's grid balance rests on 2.2 GW new capacity, 1,079 km of 500 kV lines
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Kazakhstan consumed 124.6 billion kWh in 2025 against generation of 123.1 billion kWh, a 1.5 billion kWh deficit. KEGOC is building two 500 kV lines totalling 475 km in the south and a 604.3 km western link, while southern generation additions of 2,237 MW are planned for 2026-2027. Completion of both grid projects is scheduled for 2027.
Key Facts
- Kazakhstan produced 123.1 billion kWh of electricity in 2025 and consumed 124.6 billion kWh, leaving a 1.5 billion kWh deficit.
- KEGOC is building the 500 kV Shu–Zhambyl and Zhambyl–Shymkent lines with a combined length of 475 km; after commissioning, north-south transit capacity in the Almaty–Zhambyl section will increase by 440 MW.
- The 500 kV Olke–Karabatan line in western Kazakhstan is 604.3 km long and has 500 MW of transmission capacity.
- Kazakhstan plans to commission 2,237 MW of thermal generation in the south in 2026–2027, including 557 MW at Almaty CHP-2, 926 MW in Turkestan, 544 MW at Almaty CHP-3, and 210 MW at Zhambyl GRES.
- Kazakhstan's installed power capacity is about 26.8 GW, but actual available capacity is lower because of repairs, technical limits, and weather-dependent renewables.
2025 Supply Deficit
Kazakhstan generated 123.1 billion kWh of electricity in 2025, while consumption reached 124.6 billion kWh. The annual shortfall was about 1.5 billion kWh. Energy expert Zhakyp Khairushev said installed capacity is about 26.8 GW, but repairs and technical limits mean not all of it is available at a given time. Wind and solar output depends on weather, widening the gap between nameplate and real-time capacity. The government targets full coverage of domestic demand by early 2027.
Grid Reinforcement in South and West
In the southern zone, KEGOC is constructing two 500 kV lines, Shu–Zhambyl and Zhambyl–Shymkent, totalling 475 km. After commissioning, these lines will add 440 MW of transit capacity in the Almaty–Zhambyl section of the North–South corridor. In the west, KEGOC is building the 500 kV Olke–Karabatan line, 604.3 km long with 500 MW capacity. The western line will connect the West Kazakhstan power system to the main national grid, allowing output from Atyrau and Aktobe plants and flexible western generation to compensate for imbalances elsewhere. Both grid projects are scheduled for completion in 2027.
KEGOC Renovation and Southern Generation
The first stage of KEGOC's reconstruction program ended in 2023 after upgrading 2,023 km of 220–500 kV lines in the Aktobe, West, and Sarbai MES branches. A second stage through 2031 will cover Almaty, Central, and South MES branches and lines in Almaty and Turkestan regions. In 2026–2027, the south plans to add 2,237 MW of thermal capacity: 557 MW at Almaty CHP-2, 926 MW in Turkestan, 544 MW at Almaty CHP-3, and 210 MW at Zhambyl GRES. A 272 MW Aksa Energy Qyzylorda plant was commissioned in Kyzylorda in June 2026.
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Kazakhstan's grid balance rests on 2.2 GW new capacity, 1,079 km of 500 kV lines
