Kazakhstan aims for 10 GW renewables via new transition platform

Kazakhstan has launched QaJET, its just energy transition platform, targeting 10 GW of new renewable capacity by 2035 to accelerate the clean energy shift (EBRD press release, 22/04/2026). “This will entail around USD20bn of investment from a range of private and state sources, and will lead to the reduction of GHG emissions by more than 20 million tonnes a year. This represents approximately 7% of the country’s energy-related GHG emissions”, states the EBRD press release.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Kazakh government and the EBRD lays the groundwork for partnerships with international financial institutions, donors, philanthropic groups, and private investors to drive QaJET implementation. Cooperation priorities under QaJET encompass expanding renewable electricity capacity, funding upgrades to electricity transmission and distribution networks (including grid modernisation, distribution enhancements, and battery storage), and promoting business, SME, and household electrification.

This marks a pivotal step for Kazakhstan, home to carbon-heavy industry and heavily dependent on coal for power generation, notes the EBRD. In 2024, coal dominated the power mix at 61% (-20 pp since 2010), followed by gas at 23% (+14 pp), hydro at 10% (stable), and renewables (wind + solar) at 6% (+6 pp), according to our data.

Kazakhstan pledges carbon neutrality by 2060 and, per its Nationally Determined Contribution, a net GHG emissions cut of up to 25% by 2030 versus 1990 levels. Gross GHG emissions (excluding LULUCF) have stabilised near 321 MtCO₂eq since 2021 (322 Mt in 2024). After declining from 1990-2000, emissions rebounded to a ~300 MtCO₂eq plateau. Energy combustion CO₂ held steady since 2021 (228 MtCO₂ in 2024), having more than doubled from 2000 to its 251 Mt peak in 2013 (Enerdata Global Energy Research).