Kazakhstan's energy system recovers following disruption - system operator

ASTANA. Aug 14 (Interfax) - Energy supply in Kazakhstan's Unified Energy System (UES) has been restored after a technical disruption on August 14, UES operator JSC KEGOC reported.

"At 4:12 p.m., electricity supply in the Almaty power hub from the networks of JSC KEGOC was restored. At 4:26 p.m., the southern zone of Kazakhstan's UES and the United Energy System of Central Asia is now once again functioning in parallel with the main part of Kazakhstan's UES," KEGOC said in its statement.

The JSC Alatau Zharyk Kompaniyasy city electric grid company's press service said later that power supply restrictions to consumers in Almaty and the Almaty region were completely lifted at 7:00 p.m. local time.

The special automatic load shedding mode was cancelled after the grid stabilized and power was restored. AZhK emergency response teams are currently inspecting substations and checking the load on the electrical grid. Specialists are monitoring equipment and power supply parameters.

The Kazakh Energy Ministry reported previously that a failure in Central Asia's energy system on August 14 had led to emergency power outages in several regions of Kazakhstan. According to the ministry, a power surge occurred in the energy system, caused by a sharp change in electricity flow from the Central Asian energy system. This triggered the automated emergency protection regime.

According to KEGOC, at 14:37, a technological disturbance occurred in Kazakhstan's UES, accompanied by the disconnection of the 500 kV power transmission lines Agadyr-Ulken L-5300 and L-5320, as well as Aktogay-Taldykorgan L-5400. As a result, the southern zone of the Kazakh UES and the Unified Energy System of Central Asia were isolated from each other and began operating independently.

Restrictions to electricity supply for consumers amounted to approximately 2810 MW. By 14:47 local time, restrictions totaling 295 MW were lifted in the Karaganda, Abai and Ulytau regions. KEGOC continued work on restoring energy supply to consumers.

The Kazakh Energy Ministry also denied rumors circulating among the public that the disruptions to electricity supply in Uzbekistan had occurred due to an accident in Kazakhstan's energy system.

KEGOC is the operator of the Kazakh UES. As of April 1, 2026, KEGOC's main shareholder was Kazakhstan's Sovereign Wealth Fund Samruk-Kazyna JSC with an 85% stake.