Kazakh President Tokayev: Plan to commission new energy capacity will be fulfilled at only 31% in 2022, this is unacceptable

NUR-SULTAN. July 14 (Interfax) - Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has said that the commissioning of energy capacity in the country at only 347 MW, or 31% of the plan, in 2022 is an unacceptable level of implementation.

"We must not forget about the existing shortage of energy capacity. According to the energy balance plans, we should commission capacity exceeding 1 GW this year; however, implementation of a number of projects has been postponed. Only 31% of the planned capacity, 347 MW, will be commissioned this year. Given the energy shortage, these rates are unacceptable. I hope that the government understands this," Tokayev said on Thursday at an extended government meeting.

Tokayev said the strengthening of the electrical network of the Southern and Western zones of the country's unified energy system is also progressing at an insufficient pace.

"Currently, only 10% of the work on the Western zone has been completed. It is necessary to take all measures for the timely implementation of projects. Kazakhstan's energy security depends on this," the president concluded.

Kazakhstan currently has 190 power plants that are generating electricity at total installed capacity of 23.9 GW and available capacity of 19 GW.