Kazakhstan’s Green Energy Push Gains Momentum in Q1 2025

In January, it was officially announced by NASA (and several other sources) that 2024 was the hottest year on record!

“Earth’s average surface temperature in 2024 was the warmest on record, according to an analysis led by NASA scientists.” beating the previous hottest year (2023).

Then in February this year the WMO reported; “The world just had its warmest January on record, according to leading international datasets from the Copernicus Climate Change Service and US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.”

NASA also states that for “more than half of 2024, average temperatures were more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above the baseline, and the annual average, with mathematical uncertainties, may have exceeded the level for the first time.”

For those of you who may forget, less than a 1.5^oC temperature rise was the first target of the

Paris Agreement on climate change (2015) and to be avoided before the year 2100!

It is against this background that Kazakhstan has launched into 2025 with a vigorous push toward renewable energy and emissions reduction, positioning itself as a key player in the global energy transition. From international renewable energy forums to domestic policy milestones, the first quarter of the year saw the nation solidify plans and partnerships that are likely to shape its sustainable future.

Ambitious Renewable Energy Roadmap Unveiled

The year began with Kazakhstan’s prominent participation in the 15th session of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Assembly, held in January in Abu Dhabi. During a high-level dialogue on accelerating renewable energy partnerships in Central Asia, the Kazakh delegation presented a robust portfolio of 153 renewable energy projects with a total capacity of 3,032 megawatts (MW) [1].

Zhaslan Kasenov, Director of the Renewable Energy Sources Department at the Ministry of Energy, reaffirmed the nation’s goals: to generate 15% of total energy from renewables by 2030, and 50% by 2050 [2]. IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera endorsed Kazakhstan’s role in the global energy transition, noting, “Central Asia is essential in the fight against climate change and has an abundance of natural resources” [2].

Auctions Set the Stage for Future Projects

In February, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy approved the official auction schedule for renewable energy sources in 2025, facilitated by the Kazakhstan Electricity and Power Market Operator (KOREM). The auctions, scheduled from May 26 to November 12, will offer a total installed capacity of 1,810 MW across various energy sources [3]:

Wind: 1,200 MW

Solar: 90 MW

Hydro: 500 MW

Biofuel: 20 MW

The first round of bidding will take place online from May 26–28, with separate zones (Southern, Northern, Western) allocated specific capacities and timelines for document submission [3]. KOREM hosted a preparatory online seminar in March to guide potential participants, and similar sessions are expected ahead of future bidding rounds.

For further auction information, KOREM can be contacted at koremadm@korem.kz or +7 (7172) 982-965.

Nuclear Power: A Controversial but Strategic Pivot

Nuclear energy is also re-emerging as a critical component of Kazakhstan’s long-term energy strategy. In the spring edition of Nuclear Newswire, Meirzhan Yussupov, CEO of Kazatomprom, authored a piece titled “Kazakhstan is ready to power the world’s green transition,” highlighting nuclear’ low greenhouse gas footprint and Kazakhstan’s leadership in uranium production [4].

Kazakhstan supplies approximately 20% of the world’s uranium and earned $3.1 billion in revenue and $1.3 billion in net profit from the sector in 2023 [4]. Public support for nuclear energy has also been on the rise. In a November 2024 referendum, 71% of voters approved the development of nuclear power stations [5]. Earlier this year, the government confirmed plans to build its first nuclear power plant, targeting completion of its first unit within eight years [6].

Negotiations are underway with international suppliers, with France’s EDF, China’s CNNC, South Korea’s KHNP, and Russia’s Rosatom all under consideration, according to the Ministry of Energy via World Nuclear News [7].

EV Growth Signals Broader Green Transformation

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s shift toward clean transport is gaining pace. On March 28, during the Boao Forum for Asia 2025, CGTN reported that China and Kazakhstan had committed to deepening cooperation on electric vehicle (EV) development [8]. With over five million vehicles on Kazakhstan’s roads—and only 12,000 of them electric—there is significant room for growth.

“Interest in electric vehicles is growing every day,” noted CGTN’s Aigerm Kali [8]. Anar Makasheva, President of the Kazakhstan Automobile Union, emphasized the benefits: fuel savings, user-friendly operation, and environmental sustainability.

Kazakh entrepreneur Kenges Rakishev echoed this optimism, calling partnerships with China in the EV space “a cornerstone of long-term economic stability.” As South China Morning Post quoted him: “We are a natural partner for China, especially in the growing EV sector” [9].

A Dynamic Year Ahead

With a packed calendar of renewable energy auctions, nuclear energy agreements in motion, and an expanding electric vehicle sector bolstered by foreign investment, Kazakhstan is setting a strong pace for its green transformation. The country is clearly intent on reducing its dependence on fossil fuels and meeting its ambitious climate targets.

As the momentum builds, 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year in Kazakhstan’s journey toward carbon neutrality and energy diversification.

References

NASA “Temperatures Rising: NASA Confirms 2024 Warmest Year on Record” January 2025

WMO “January 2025 sees record global temperatures despite La Niña” February 2025

IRENA, “High-Level Dialogue on Accelerated Partnership for Renewable Energy in Central Asia,” January 2025.

SCMP, “Kazakhstan targets 15% renewable energy by 2030,” January 2025.

KOREM, “2025 Renewable Energy Auction Schedule,” February 2025.

Meirzhan Yussupov, Nuclear Newswire, “Kazakhstan is ready to power the world’s green transition,” Spring 2025 edition.

Kazakh Central Electoral Commission, “Nuclear Energy Referendum Results,” November 2024.

Kazakhstan Ministry of Energy, Press Release, January 2025.

World Nuclear News, “Kazakhstan considers EDF, CNNC, KHNP, and Rosatom for first NPP,” March 2025.

CGTN, “China and Kazakhstan join hands on EV development and green transformation,” March 28, 2025.

South China Morning Post, “Kazakhstan eyes role as China’s EV partner,” March 2025.