Chinese consortium wins tender to convert Almaty CHP-2 plant from coal to gas

ASTANA. May 31 (Interfax) - A consortium of three Chinese companies has won a tender for the right to convert the Almaty CHP-2 combined heat and power plant in Kazakhstan from coal to gas, Sovereign Wealth Fund Samruk-Kazyna said in a press release.

The bidding process was launched in October 2022 and was conducted in two stages according to the standards of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The EBRD participates in the financing of the project, which is secured by Samruk-Kazyna, according to the press release.

"As many as six bids were submitted from different countries. The winner is a consortium of three Chinese companies: Dongfang Electric International Corporation, Powerchina Sepco1 Electric Power Construction Co., Ltd and Powerchina Hebei Electric Power Engineering Co., Ltd. The first of them is a large producer of industrial equipment, the second one has experience with EPC contracts [Engineering, Procurement, Construction], and the third one specializes in engineering services. EBRD has already approved the winner, and the bidding process is now officially completed and fully compliant with the EBRD rules," the press release says.

The signing ceremony of an EPC contract with the Chinese consortium took place at CHP-2 on Wednesday. The contract covers the full scope of work: engineering, procurement, construction, installation, start-up and commissioning, according to Samruk-Kazyna.

The project will be financed by EBRD, Asian Development Bank and Development Bank of Kazakhstan.

As a result of the project, which is expected to be finished in December 2026, the installed capacity of Almaty CHP-2 will increase to 600 MW and heat generation capacity to 957 Gcal/h.