Electricity in Kazakhstan in 2023/2024

Between July 2023 and June 2024, Kazakhstan's electricity sector was heavily reliant on fossil energy, which accounted for more than 85% of total electricity consumption. Coal was the dominant fossil energy source, making up close to two-thirds of the total electricity usage. Gas contributed to roughly 20% of the energy mix. In contrast, low-carbon or clean energy sources made up just under 14% of the electricity generation. Among these, hydropower was the most significant, contributing about 8.6%, followed by wind energy at 3.6% and solar energy at nearly 1.6%. This shows an overwhelming dependence on fossil fuels, which not only heightens climate change risks but also poses serious air pollution problems.

Suggestions

To ramp up its low-carbon electricity generation, Kazakhstan can draw valuable lessons from countries achieving significant success in specific clean energy sectors. For instance, France and Slovakia, generating over 60% and nearly 70% of their electricity from nuclear energy, respectively, demonstrate the immense potential of nuclear power for reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Closer to Kazakhstan, Ukraine produces more than half of its electricity through nuclear energy, suggesting that even countries with similar geographic and economic challenges can successfully leverage nuclear power. Denmark's approach to harnessing wind energy—contributing almost two-thirds of its electricity—provides a stellar example of how wind can form a substantial part of a cleaner energy mix. Emulating these examples can significantly boost Kazakhstan’s clean energy share, thereby curbing the environmental impact of its electricity production.

History

Kazakhstan has experienced varied growth patterns in its low-carbon electricity generation over the past decades. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, hydropower saw some growth, with increments of around 1 TWh yearly, although this was interrupted by occasional declines in the mid-to-late-1990s. The new millennium brought periods of both recovery and setbacks for hydropower, featuring notable increases in 2000 and 2010 and more recently in 2016 and 2023/2024, which saw an additional 1.1 TWh. The landscape of low-carbon electricity evolved further in the last few years with the introduction and growth of wind and solar power; for instance, 2020 marked an initial boost of solar energy by 0.8 TWh, and wind energy rose steadily with increases in 2021 and 2022, reaching a significant 1.3 TWh in 2023. Given this historical context, strategic investments in nuclear, wind, and solar energy could firmly establish a sustainable and reliable low-carbon electricity framework in Kazakhstan.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources