Kazakhstan energy minister explains August 14 blackout that hit eight regions
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Kazakhstan's Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said on August 25 that the August 14 blackout was caused by failures of two hydro generators at the Toktogul plant in Kyrgyzstan. The failures triggered a chain reaction that disconnected Kazakhstan's north and south energy zones and left eight regions without power. KEGOC restored the entire system within 2.5 hours, he said.
Key Facts
- The blackout occurred on August 14, 2026, at 14:37, when two hydro generators with a combined capacity of about 625 MW failed at the Toktogul hydroelectric station in Kyrgyzstan.
- Eight regions of Kazakhstan lost power, including the Almaty energy hub and the Agadyr substation.
- KEGOC restored the entire energy system of Kazakhstan within 2.5 hours, with restrictions lifted in Karaganda, Abai, and Ulytau regions by 14:47 and in Almaty and Zhetysu regions by 16:12.
- Minister Akkenzhenov compared the restoration time favorably to Istanbul, where a similar event took several days.
Cause of the Blackout
At 14:37 on August 14, 2026, generating equipment failed in the Central Asian energy system. The failure involved hydro generators No. 1 and No. 2 at the Toktogul hydroelectric station, with a total capacity of about 625 megawatts. The change in operating mode of adjacent energy systems in Central Asia led to a redistribution of power in the southern region of Kazakhstan's unified electric power system. As a result, the northern and southern energy zones of Kazakhstan were disconnected, and the southern part operated in an isolated mode. Three substations failed, including the Almaty energy hub and the Agadyr substation, followed by the disconnection of three power lines.
Restoration Timeline
At 14:47, KEGOC took all necessary measures to reconnect some regions to the power grid. Restrictions in Karaganda, Abai, and Ulytau regions were lifted at that time. At 16:12, restrictions on electricity supply in Almaty and Zhetysu regions were also removed. Minister Akkenzhenov said the operator restored the entire energy system of Kazakhstan within 2.5 hours. He noted that in Istanbul, a similar event took several days.
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Kazakhstan energy minister explains August 14 blackout that hit eight regions
