KEGOC restores power to Almaty after 962 MW outage

September 25, 2026 at 09:20 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

A 1,516 MW generation loss in Uzbekistan's grid at 5:02 a.m. on Sept. 25 triggered a cascade that split Kazakhstan's North-South transit and cut 962 MW of load. KEGOC's emergency automation restored the South zone's parallel operation by 5:43 a.m., and Almaty Zharyk Company reconnected all affected consumers by 7:05 a.m. The outage briefly hit parts of Almaty and ten districts of Almaty region.

Key Facts

At 5:02 a.m. on Sept. 25, 2026, a 1,516 MW generation loss in Uzbekistan's grid caused a power surge that split Kazakhstan's North-South transit.
KEGOC reported consumer restrictions of 962 MW across Kazakhstan's power system.
Almaty Zharyk Company said 378 MW of load was shed in Almaty and Almaty region, affecting parts of four city districts and ten regional districts.
Parallel operation of Kazakhstan's South zone with the Central Asia grid was restored at 5:43 a.m., and all affected consumers were reconnected by 7:05 a.m.
The outage followed an Aug. 14 blackout in Almaty and Almaty region caused by two hydro generators tripping at Toktogul HPP.

Cascade Failure

At 5:02 a.m. on Sept. 25, 2026, a 1,516 MW generation loss in Uzbekistan's power system triggered a power surge from the Central Asia grid. The surge split Kazakhstan's North-South transit, and KEGOC's emergency automation operated as designed. Consumer restrictions in Kazakhstan's power system totaled 962 MW. By 5:43 a.m., KEGOC restored parallel operation of Kazakhstan's South zone with the Central Asia grid and ordered restrictions lifted.

Local Impact

Almaty Zharyk Company reported that 500 kV lines L-5394, L-5300, and L-5320, owned by KEGOC, tripped at 5:02 a.m. Emergency automation shed 378 MW of load in Almaty and Almaty region. In Almaty, parts of Bostandyk, Nauryzbay, Auezov, and Alatau districts lost power. In Almaty region, consumers in Zhambyl, Balkhash, Esik, Karasay, Shelek, Raiymbek, Uygur, Ili, Kegen, and Talgar districts were temporarily disconnected. Almaty Zharyk Company received the order to reconnect consumers at 5:51 a.m., restored 70% of AChR-shed load by 6:20 a.m., and completed full restoration by 7:05 a.m.

Recent Precedent

On Aug. 14, 2026, Almaty and Almaty region suffered a blackout that later spread to eight regions. KEGOC said two hydro generators totaling 600 MW tripped at Toktogul HPP, overloading the North-South transit.