Kazakhstan has selected 32 sites for the construction of small hydropower plants (HPPs). This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
According to the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, within the framework of the Roadmap to increase the potential of small hydropower at water management facilities of the Republican State Enterprise "Kazvodkhoz", 32 sites were selected for the construction of small HPPs.
First Phase: Five Sites
In the first phase, construction of small HPPs is planned at five sites:
- 01Samarkand reservoir in Karaganda region;
- 02Kargaly reservoir in Aktobe region;
- 03Karakol reservoir in Abai region;
- 04Karatomar and Verkhne-Tobolsk reservoirs in Kostanay region.
The total capacity of these stations will be about 9 MW.
Second and Third Phases
The second phase provides for the construction of HPPs at 18 sites with a total capacity of about 25 MW. The third phase includes 9 sites with potential. Six of them are located at new reservoirs planned in the Abai and East Kazakhstan regions.
Minister's Comment
According to Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, necessary documents have been prepared for the first and second phases, and issues of project implementation are being worked out.
Currently, the balance of RSE "Kazvodkhoz" includes three small HPPs in the North Kazakhstan and Karaganda regions, as well as on the transboundary Korgas River, with a total capacity of about 5 MW.