The Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan announced plans to purchase land as part of a project to build a cascade of three hydroelectric power stations (HPPs) on the Tentek River in the Alakol district of the Zhetysu region. Previously, the department was forced to consider a construction project upstream compared to the original plan due to the fact that the lands on which the hydroelectric power station was planned to be built are privately owned, but as a result it decided to return to it, since the construction of a hydroelectric power station above this point will reduce the capacity Tonkeris station by 10 MW.
«Three projects for the construction of hydroelectric power plants (HPPs) in the Alakol district of the Zhetysu region were pre-selected as part of the first stage. All three facilities are reservoir-type hydroelectric power stations and include the Tonkeris dam and hydroelectric power station, the Lower Kyzyltogay dam and hydroelectric power station, and the Upper Kyzyltogay dam and hydroelectric power station, combined in a cascade on the Tentek River. This activity statement has been prepared for the Tonkeris Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) project, which is planned as the final stage of the Tentek River cascade», – says the activity statement available to «Kursiva».
The estimated capacity of the Tonkeris hydroelectric power station will be 87.75 MW (maximum – 92.58 MW). As part of the project, the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan entered into an agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on the provision of consulting services. ADB will provide technical support to the project aimed at determining the parameters of hydroelectric power stations for their subsequent development with the attraction of private investment.
The project site is located approximately 580 km northeast of Almaty and 385 km northeast of Taldykorgan. All three hydroelectric power plants will function as a single system, ensuring consistent flow control, stable energy supply and optimal electricity generation throughout the year. During the pre-feasibility study, possible accommodation options were explored.
«Dam axis selected upstream of existing irrigation water intake – site identified as most suitable for geology, topography and accessibility. The hydroelectric power station building was originally planned downstream, which provided more head and power, but due to leased private land in the area, the decision was made to move the building upstream. This led to a loss of more than 10 meters of pressure and a reduction in power by over 10 MW. At the stage of the final feasibility study, it is planned to reassess the possibility of returning to the original version by purchasing the required site, which will restore the original design parameters and increase the efficiency of the station», –reported in the documentation.
The height of the dam will be 121.5 meters, the volume of the reservoir will be – 236 million cubic meters. The average annual electricity generation based on hydrological analysis for the period 1932–2023 is estimated at 301.10 GWh per year.
The Ministry of Energy does not provide specific deadlines for the project, since it is at the stage of preliminary feasibility study (pre-feasibility study). The final time frame will be clarified based on the results of developing a feasibility study, design and estimate documentation, as well as obtaining the necessary approvals and permits.
The project is planned to be implemented within the framework of a public-private partnership (PPP) and will include a pre-construction phase (engineering preparation, design, equipment tenders) lasting 12–24 months, as well as the main construction phase. The total construction period is estimated at 48– 60 months. This type of hydroelectric power plant has an average life of 50–70 years.
The development plan for the hydropower industry of Kazakhstan for 2020–2030 indicated the construction of two hydroelectric power stations on the Tentek River: the first – with a capacity of 5 MW in the Alakol region and the second hydroelectric power station with a capacity of 50 MW (the area was not specified). Both stations were to be built and commissioned in 2026 by «Zhetysu Hydro».
Based on the results of the bidding held on November 12, 2024 for the selection of projects for the construction of hydroelectric power plants (HPPs) with a total installed capacity of 100 MW, the companies that offered electricity tariffs close to the maximum won, the company «KOREM» reported. In particular, based on the results of the auction, Baskan Irrigation (electricity production by hydroelectric power plants), registered in Almaty, will build a hydroelectric power station with a capacity of 30 MW at a price of 41.22 tenge per kWh (excluding VAT), which is only one tiyn lower than the starting price. All other companies participating in the auction received less lucrative contracts.
Baskan Irrigation is owned by a private company EnergyBridge Ltd, registered with the International Financial Center «Astana» (AIFC). (activities of holding companies and production of electricity by hydroelectric power plants), which, in turn, is owned by the private company PowerBridge Limited, Kairat Orazbekov and Alen Baygazin. PowerBridge Limited, registered with the AIFC (other financial services, financing in various sectors of the economy, investment activities), is owned by the private company KAZ Minerals Holding Limited (activities of holding companies) and Alain Baygazin, registered with the AIFC.
KAZ Minerals Holding Limited is owned by UAE (Dubai) registered KAZ Minerals International DMCC. Dubai-based KAZ Minerals International DMCC is owned by Kazakhstan’s Trianon Limited, whose ultimate co-owners are Vladimir Kim and Oleg Novachuk. 63.5% of the KAZ Minerals copper group belongs to entrepreneur Vladimir Kim, who ranks third in the list of the richest Kazakhstanis, according to Forbes, with a fortune of $5.7 billion. 36.5% of KAZ Minerals is owned by Oleg Novachuk, who ranks 20th in the list of the richest Kazakhstanis, according to Forbes, with a fortune of $481 million.
Zhanbolat Mamyshev («Italics»)
