Kurchatov power station
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Kurchatov power station (Курчатовская ТЭЦ) is an announced power station in Kurchatov, Abay, Kazakhstan.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Kurchatov power station | Kurchatov, Abay, Kazakhstan | 50.754, 78.5373 (approximate) |
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year | Emergency/Backup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Announced[1][2] | coal: bituminous, fossil liquids: diesel[3][1] | 350[1] | supercritical[4] | 2029 (planned)[1] | False |
| Unit 2 | Announced[1][2] | coal: bituminous, fossil liquids: diesel[3][1] | 350[1] | supercritical[4] | 2030 (planned)[1] | False |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | TOO "GRES Kurchatov" LLP [100%][5][4] | TOO "GRES Kurchatov" LLP [100.0%] |
| Unit 2 | TOO "GRES Kurchatov" LLP [100%][5][4] | TOO "GRES Kurchatov" LLP [100.0%] |
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): domestic
Ownership Tree
This ownership tree is part of the Global Energy Ownership Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.
Background
In March 2025, it was announced that the Kurchatov power station with a planned capacity of 700 MW would be built in the city of Kurchatov, Abay Region.[1]
In December 2025, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy launched a tender for the construction of the power station.[2] According to the tender documentation, the plant was designed as an electricity-only facility and would not provide district heating. Installed capacity was specified at 700 MW, with up to 9% consumed for the plant’s own needs, resulting in approximately 644 MW supplied to the grid.[2]
Bituminous coal of grade was identified as the primary fuel, with diesel specified for start-up. The documentation noted the availability of suitable coal from the nearby Karazhyra deposit located within 100 km of Kurchatov. The plant was planned to use pulverized coal boilers, with requirements to apply best available technologies for emissions and other environmental parameters. Final technical configuration and equipment suppliers were to be determined by the tender winner.[2]
The total estimated construction cost was reported at KZT 759.6 billion (approximately $1.45 billion). The construction period was specified as 2026–2032. The tender winner was expected to build, finance, operate, and maintain the plant.[2]
According to the preliminary feasibility study, the project was planned to be implemented in two phases: the first unit of 350 MW was expected to be completed in 2029, while the second 350 MW unit was planned for completion in 2030. As of January 2026, the project remained at the announced and tender stage, with financing arrangements and final technology yet to be determined.[2]
In January 2026, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy selected TOO "GRES Kurchatov" as the winner of the tender for the Kurchatov power station. The ministry signed a construction contract with the company on January 13, 2026, and said the plant would be built under the existing capacity market mechanism without budget funding.[6]
In April 2026, Kazakhstan included the Kurchatov power plant, with capacity of up to 700 MW, among eight new power plants under the 2026-2030 national project for coal-based generation development.[7]
Environmental Impact
The project was planned to use so-called "clean coal" technology and operate on supercritical steam parameters. The Ministry of Energy said the project would include modern gas cleaning, emissions filtration, and dust suppression systems.[8]
Ownership
Kursiv reported that GRES Kurchatov LLP was wholly owned by Temirlan Utegenov, who was also identified in open sources as the head of Kazakhmys Energy.[9]
Financing
Investment recovery for the project was envisaged over a five-year period through a capacity availability tariff capped at KZT 23.2 million (approximately $44,600) per MW. An energy sector expert noted that it is unlikely an investor would be willing to recover investments under the proposed tariff within such a timeframe. According to this assessment, the project may ultimately be implemented by the state-owned power company Samruk-Energo.[10]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 https://kz.kursiv.media/2025-12-25/zhnb-tender-na-stroitelstvo-moshhnoi-ugolnoi-tecz-obyavili-v-kazahstane/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Министерство Энергетики Республики Казахстан (2025-04-02). "О внесении изменения в приказ Министра энергетики Республики Казахстан от 20 февраля 2024 года № 71 «Об утверждении Плана мероприятий по развитию электроэнергетической отрасли до 2035 года»". Archived from the original on 2025-10-16.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://www.gem.wiki/Coal_source_methodology_for_the_Global_Coal_Plant_Tracker.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 https://kz.kursiv.media/2026-01-20/zhnb-moshhnuyu-tecz-v-kurchatove-obeshhayut-postroit-na-dengi-investora/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 https://www.caravan.kz/news/v-kurchatove-postrojat-novuju-jelektrostanciju-moshhnostju-700-megavatt/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ Мамышев, Жанболат (January 2026). "Компания, связанная с «Казахмысом», построит мощную ТЭЦ в Курчатове за 760 млрд тенге". Kursiv.media. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Kazakhstan set to build 8 more power plants". Qazinform. April 2026. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Мамышев, Жанболат (January 2026). "Компания, связанная с «Казахмысом», построит мощную ТЭЦ в Курчатове за 760 млрд тенге". Kursiv.media. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Мамышев, Жанболат (January 2026). "Компания, связанная с «Казахмысом», построит мощную ТЭЦ в Курчатове за 760 млрд тенге". Kursiv.media. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Новую электростанцию в Абайской области построят по требованию Токаева". ulysmedia.kz. December 25, 2025. Retrieved Jan 9, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
