Development of renewable energy sources in Kazakhstan - one of main directions of Kazakhstan's energy sector

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and New technologies of Kazakhstan Asset Issekeshev noted that the task on development of the "green economy" was set by the Head of State.

"This task requires some specific measures taking into account environmental, economic and social aspects. In this regard, some measures have already been developed and some measures on substantial development of the fuel and energy complex of Kazakhstan still have to be developed," A. Issekeshev emphasized.

He noted that at the end of the last month the Government of Kazakhstan adopted the Action Plan on development of alternative and renewable energy sources for 2012-2013 on the instructions of the President. According to this plan, 1040 megawatt capacities of renewable energy sources are expected to be available by 2020, 13 of them are wind electric generating plants, 14 - hydropower plants and 4 - solar energy plants, Kazakh PM' s website informs.

"Speaking of implementation of the projects of renewable energy sources, we can say that in accordance with the information of the monitoring, production of electric energy by renewable energy sources increases every year. It made 450 mln kWh in 2012 which is a 6% increase comparing to the previous year" the Deputy Prime Minister said.

According to him, 25 projects of this sector have already been implemented in Kazakhstan including solar panels on the roof of the Gumilyov Eurasian National University. 5 small hydropower plants with total capacity of 20 megawatts have been put into operation on mountain rivers of Almaty region.

This year, 12 projects including construction of wind power plant "Agrofirma "Rodina", 2 hydropower plants in Almaty region, solar energy plant in Kapchagai, 2 hydropower plants in Zhambyl region and others are planned to be finished.

Besides, it is planned to begin implementation of a number of projects including construction of the first stage of the Yereymentausky wind farm with 45 megawatt capacity this year. Its design capacity will be 300 megawatts. This project will serve as an energy source which will supply energy for the facilities of the EXPO-2017.

A.Issekeshev also noted that the proposals developed by the Ministry on development of renewable energy sources would allow to begin implementation of all mentioned projects and implement the tasks set by the President of Kazakhstan.

In turn, S. Akhmetov emphasized that development of renewable energy sources is one of the main directions of the energy sector of the country and the Head of State pays special attention to this issue.

"It is important to supply power for the facilities of the EXPO-2017 by means of renewable energy sources. We already have good ideas and I think that by 2017 we will have many interesting projects not only around Astana but in the city itself," the Minster emphasized.