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Kazakhstan has revised its plans for the third power unit at the Ekibastuz Thermal Power Plant (TPP-2)، opting for equipment from China's Harbin Electric International Company instead of previously considered Russian turbines and generators. This strategic shift is expected to substantially lower the project's overall cost.

Significant Cost Reduction

Energy expert Nurlan Zhumagulov highlighted that this new decision has reduced the project's cost from 650 billion tenge to approximately 400 billion tenge. This represents a saving of around $500 million. The project was initially intended to involve Russian enterprises and secure preferential loans from Russia. However، funding delays and postponed equipment delivery schedules prompted the change.

Previous Plans and Delays

Last year، authorities were considering the use of Russian technologies and equipment for the expansion of Ekibastuz TPP-2. The situation evolved، leading to the decision to collaborate with Chinese partners instead. The delays in financing and delivery from the Russian side appear to have been a key factor in this reconsideration.

Past Legal Issues

In a separate development last year، a court case concluded concerning the alleged embezzlement of approximately 973 million tenge related to TPP-2 projects. Investigations revealed that a contractor had received payment for equipment that was never delivered. While one defendant was found guilty of fraud، they were released from liability due to the statute of limitations. The remaining defendants were acquitted due to a lack of criminal elements in their actions.