A time capsule was buried in the land of southern Kazakhstan, which sealed the future picture of the largest solar power plant in Central Asia, marking the deep integration of China's the Belt and Road Initiative and Kazakhstan's new economic policy of the Bright Road in the energy field.

On December 15, 2025, a special ceremony was held in the Tukelstan region of Kazakhstan. Local government officials and representatives from China Energy Construction Group jointly buried a time capsule that records the project vision underground, marking the official start of Kazakhstan's largest solar power plant project to date. This 300 MW photovoltaic power station will not only be a crucial step in Kazakhstan's green transformation, but also a milestone for China Kazakhstan energy cooperation to enter a new stage.

The groundbreaking ceremony of the project in Orenge District, Tukelstan Region, southern Kazakhstan, attracted extensive participation from political and business figures from both China and Kazakhstan. Samruk Energy CEO Maksutov, along with Lin Xiaodan, Chairman of China Energy Construction Group Overseas Investment Co., Ltd., and Nurarhan Kuscherov, Governor of Turkestan State, attended the event. Through video conferencing, Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan Han Chunlin, President of China Energy Engineering Group Ni Zhen, and the head of Kazakhstan's Samruk Kazena National Welfare Fund witnessed this moment together.

The project is highly anticipated and regarded as a key node in the transformation of the local energy structure and the enhancement of regional investment attractiveness. It will become one of the largest photovoltaic systems in Kazakhstan, having a positive impact on the energy balance in the southern region.

The installed capacity of 300 megawatts, combined with the energy storage system, makes this project a significant demonstration effect in Central Asia. The project site selection has special considerations - the continuous increase in load in the southern region of Kazakhstan urgently requires stable power supply. After the project is completed, it will provide renewable clean electricity to the region, forming a virtuous cycle with the landing of new factories and industrial expansion.

According to data from the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan, as of the third quarter of 2025, clean energy generation has accounted for over 7% of the country's total electricity generation, and the number of renewable energy facilities in the country has reached 159. The advancement of this project will further drive Kazakhstan to achieve its goal of 15% renewable energy by 2030. The cooperation with Chinese energy companies is also in line with Kazakhstan's economic strategy of attracting foreign investment and promoting technology transfer.

The project will adopt next-generation photovoltaic modules, solar tracking systems, and energy storage solutions, representing the advanced technological level of current photovoltaic power plants. As a leading global provider of energy infrastructure solutions, China Energy Engineering Group will apply the technology and management experience accumulated in the construction of large-scale photovoltaic projects in China to this project. This technology cooperation model not only ensures efficient project implementation, but also provides opportunities for Kazakhstan to cultivate local new energy technology talents.

Of particular note is that the project will form a synergistic effect with the promotion of 400000 hectares of water-saving technology in the Turkestan region, jointly supporting regional green transformation. This comprehensive solution of energy and water conservation reflects the overall idea of sustainable development.

This project is an important achievement under the framework of China Kazakhstan energy cooperation, with an investment scale of approximately 160 billion tenge, and is expected to create about 500 local job opportunities. Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan Han Chunlin emphasized in a video speech that the implementation of the project will enhance Kazakhstan's energy security and deepen practical cooperation between China and Kazakhstan in the field of new energy.

Kazakhstan has abundant solar energy resources, with an annual sunshine duration of 2200-3000 hours, and enormous potential for photovoltaic power generation. With the construction of this 300 MW solar power plant, China Kazakhstan energy cooperation is expanding from traditional oil and gas fields to renewable energy. The Belt and Road project news, the Belt and Road news information

The project is planned to be completed and put into operation before 2027, making it one of the most iconic clean energy projects in Central Asia. Providing clean electricity to local residents and businesses has also laid a solid foundation for cooperation between China and Kazakhstan in the new energy era.Editor/Cheng Liting