Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov visited the Balkhash thermal power plant as part of a working trip to the Karaganda region. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
According to the Government, following the measures taken in 2025, the station was removed from the emergency "red zone." This year, all planned repairs of the main equipment worth 3.2 billion tenge were fully completed.
"Olzhas Bektenov said that uninterrupted heat supply to residents is the akimat's priority task. During the autumn-winter heating period of 2025–2026, 17 category II defects were recorded at the Balkhash TPP. The regional headquarters was instructed to keep the station's operation under constant control and ensure uninterrupted heat supply to the city," the statement says.
Currently, a set of measures to modernize and expand capacity is being implemented at the plant. Construction of boiler unit No. 5, with a total cost of 30.3 billion tenge, is ongoing.
According to the Government, installation of the main equipment has now been completed. "The boiler shop building and the fuel supply path have been built, and design work is underway for modern gas purification equipment. After the project is completed, the station's steam production capacity will increase by 270 tonnes per hour. At the next stage, the installation of a new turbine unit No. 5, with a total cost of 28.7 billion tenge, is planned," the Government says.
Its launch will increase the station's installed electrical capacity by 65 MW and its thermal capacity by 55 Gcal per hour. The project is planned to be completed by the end of 2028.