Soon, hundreds of tall wind turbines will stand here, forming the "Mirny" wind farm, meaning "peaceful". It will not only be the largest wind power project in Kazakhstan to date, but also a new landmark for green energy development in Central Asia.

Paris signed a contract and the project entered the fast lane

French energy giant Total Energy, Kazakhstan's Samruk Energy Company, and Kazakhstan's National Oil and Gas Company have jointly signed a letter of intent to award contracts to key suppliers. This marks the official entry of the "Milne" 1 GW wind power project, with a total investment of 1.2 billion US dollars, into the final sprint stage before construction and implementation.  

According to the plan, the formal agreement for the project will be signed after the final investment decision is approved and financing is completed. At present, the goals of all parties are clear: the construction work is expected to start in March 2026. The project company Aktas Energy Limited Liability Company has been established, with Total Energy holding 60% of the equity and two state-owned enterprises in Kazakhstan each holding 20%.  

China, Kazakhstan, and France join forces to build a wind power storage complex

The "Milne" project is not just a simple wind farm, it is also a comprehensive green energy base equipped with advanced energy storage systems. This constitutes the three core pillars of the project:

Wind power construction "Made in China": The design and construction work of the project is specifically undertaken by an international consortium. Among them, Shanghai Electric Group Co., Ltd. and its affiliated Shanghai Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd., as the main members, will cooperate with local GCD Partner company in Kazakhstan to bring advanced wind power technology, equipment, and engineering experience from China to Kazakhstan, ensuring the smooth construction of this giant wind farm.  

Energy Storage Stability "French Core": To ensure stable power supply to the grid during wind speed changes, the project will build a large-scale energy storage system with a capacity of up to 600 megawatt hours. This will be Kazakhstan's first energy storage facility of this scale, provided by Saft, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Total Energy and a French battery manufacturer. Olivier Juni, Vice President of Total Energy, stated that the introduction of Saft's advanced energy storage solution is a reflection of the company's internal synergies, and the battery system is crucial for ensuring the stability of the national power grid.  

Green benefits are visible: After the project is fully completed, it is expected to generate approximately 4 billion kilowatt hours of electricity annually, providing a continuous supply of clean power to Kazakhstan. More importantly, it can help reduce over 3 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, making a substantial contribution to addressing climate change.

Deep Cultivation and Cooperation, the Green Symphony of the Belt and Road

The "Milne" project is a model of deep cooperation between international capital, technology, and local resources in the field of new energy. The leading French company Total Energy has been operating in Kazakhstan since 1993, expanding its business scope from traditional Kashagan oil field development to renewable energy project operations, in line with the global energy transition trend. At the same time, the deep participation of Shanghai Electric, a Chinese enterprise, is a concrete manifestation of international cooperation in capacity and infrastructure construction under the the Belt and Road Initiative. The cooperation between China and Kazakhstan in the field of energy is efficiently extending from traditional areas to new green and low-carbon tracks, injecting strong impetus into Kazakhstan's energy security, economic diversification, and sustainable development goals. With the final implementation of project details and the unfolding of construction, this "peaceful" wind farm located in the hinterland of Central Asia will not only change the local energy structure, but also become a highly anticipated highlight in the global energy transition wave.Editor/Yang Meiling