The bottom line: state-owned Samruk-Energy has signed an agreement with two Chinese companies to jointly develop a wind project of up to 1 GW in Kazakhstan's Zhetysu region. This is a joint development agreement, not a construction contract; the investment amount and start and commissioning dates have not been published.
The documents were exchanged on 25 September in Almaty at the Kazakhstan–China Investment Forum. The Chinese parties are China Energy Overseas Investment, part of China Energy Engineering, and the overseas investment arm of SANY Renewable. Sovereign fund Samruk-Kazyna announced the deal on its website, describing it as "two wind farms of 500 MW each".
The scope goes beyond turbines. According to the list of agreements published by Kazakh Invest, the project includes two energy storage systems of 150 MW and 300 MWh each, plus 500 kV lines totalling about 800 km connecting to the Aktogay and Taldykorgan substations. Kursiv reported that the agreement runs for three years with an option to extend.
Why such long lines? Zhetysu has strong wind but limited local demand, and Kazakhstan's grid has long been unbalanced between north and south. Feeding output into the backbone network and smoothing fluctuations with storage is the key condition for connecting a large wind farm.
Rules related to this news
The line-up speaks for itself: SANY Renewable makes wind turbines, China Energy specialises in power construction and grids, and Samruk-Energy is Kazakhstan's state power platform. Together they cover equipment, construction and grid connection.
For context, Kazakh Invest said about 50 commercial documents worth more than 8.2 billion US dollars were exchanged at the forum, 10 of them, worth about 5.4 billion, in the President's presence. Renewables made up about 7% of Kazakhstan's power generation in 2025; the government targets 15% by 2030.
Chinese companies should watch several open questions: equity split in the project company, the power offtaker, participation in state auctions and equipment localisation requirements. No public information is available yet; official statements from Samruk-Energy and the Ministry of Energy should be the reference.
资料来源:
萨姆鲁克-卡泽纳基金(Samruk-Kazyna),https://www.sk.kz/press-center/news/79451/?lang=ru
哈萨克斯坦国家投资公司Kazakh Invest,https://invest.gov.kz/ru/media-center/press-releases/v-almaty-s-uchastiem-glavy-gosudarstva-prokhodit-investitsionnyy-forum-kazakhstan-kitay/
Profit.kz(转引Kursiv),https://profit.kz/news/74957/Kitaj-postroit-neskolko-moschnih-vetrovih-elektrostancij-v-Kazahstane/
Key facts
- Samruk-Energy signed a joint development agreement with China Energy Engineering Group Overseas Investment and Sany Renewable Energy Overseas Investment.
- The Jetisu Region wind power project plans two 500 MW wind farms, with total installed capacity of up to 1 GW.
- The project includes two 150 MW/300 MWh energy storage systems.
- The project plans to build approximately 800 km of 500 kV lines, connected to the Aktogay and Taldykorgan substations.
- The term of the project agreement is three years and may be extended.
- The project's investment amount, start of construction, and commissioning date have not yet been announced.
FAQ
What is the planned installed capacity of the wind power project in Jetisu Region?
The project plans to build two 500 MW wind farms, with a total installed capacity of up to 1 GW.
Has the project entered the construction stage?
The agreement currently signed is a joint development agreement, not a construction contract; the investment amount, start of construction, and commissioning date have not been disclosed.
What energy storage and transmission facilities will be built as part of the project?
The project includes two 150 MW/300 MWh energy storage systems and approximately 800 km of 500 kV lines, connected to the Aktogay and Taldykorgan substations.
Why are energy storage and long-distance transmission lines included?
Jetisu Region has good wind resources, but local load is limited. Kazakhstan's power grid has long been unbalanced between north and south, with power shortages in the south. Energy storage is used to smooth output fluctuations, and connection to the main grid is key to integrating large-scale wind power projects.
What is the term of the project agreement?
The term of the agreement is three years and may be extended.