Energy Minister Inspects Progress of CHP Plant Modernization in Almaty

On July 11, 2026, the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Erlan Akenzhenov, visited the construction sites of CHP-2 and CHP-3 in Almaty. He assessed the progress of projects aimed at converting the plants to burn natural gas, following a direct order from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan.

At CHP-2, the overall construction readiness level has reached 92%. The delivery of technological equipment is nearly complete, with approximately 1,500 specialists and over 140 units of construction machinery active on site. The minister emphasized maintaining the current pace of construction. Contractors have been instructed to recruit additional specialized personnel, including installers and welders, and to expedite the documentation approvals necessary for commissioning work.

During the inspection of CHP-3, significant delays were noted in the project's timeline. The overall readiness of the facility is around 26%. Key equipment delivery is still behind schedule, and the actual workforce is below 600 people, whereas about 1,600 are needed. This affects the timelines for construction and installation works on several critical components of the station, including the switchgear and control systems.

In response to the identified issues, the energy minister ordered the client and the general contractor to swiftly increase the pace of construction, boost staff numbers, and expand the amount of equipment in use to meet project specifications.

“The deadlines are set in stone; no extensions are up for discussion! I demand an immediate resolution to the labor shortfall and a significant increase in specialized machinery on site,” stated Erlan Akenzhenov.

Additionally, exhaustive measures must be taken to expedite equipment deliveries, and the work schedule must be updated to strictly adhere to the project's set deadlines. The minister warned that if resources at the lagging site are not fully mobilized in the coming weeks, severe penalties will be initiated against the clients and contractors.

reported by Housing and Public Utilities 24, citing the Ministry of Energy website.

Photo: gov.kz