On February 3, 2026, a signing ceremony is taking place in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. Representatives from Italian energy giant Eni, Kazakhstan's sovereign fund Samruk Kazna, and China's Sany Renewable Energy Company jointly signed the wind power equipment supply contract for the Zhanaocen hybrid energy project. This contract not only signifies the official landing of the 77 MW wind power equipment order, but also marks a crucial step in the restructuring of Kazakhstan's new energy industry chain.

Wind power equipment cooperation officially landed

According to the agreement, Eni has selected a wind turbine manufacturing plant located in Shu City, Shangbier District as the wind power equipment supplier for the Zhanaocen hybrid energy project. The manufacturing plant is jointly operated by Kazakhstan's sovereign fund Samruk Kazna and China's Sany Renewable Energy Company, and will be responsible for the supply and installation of wind turbine equipment.

The total installed capacity of the wind power sector is 77 megawatts. As part of the implementation of Project A, the equipment will be delivered to Zanaocen City in the Mangisto region. This cooperation not only solves the problem of equipment supply for the project, but also injects new impetus into the development of Kazakhstan's wind power industry chain through localized manufacturing.

Electricity shortage drives the acceleration of renewable energy

According to data from the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan, the national renewable energy power generation will reach 8.621 billion kilowatt hours in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 13.7%, accounting for 7% of the total national power generation and corresponding to an installed capacity of 3.537 gigawatts. During the same period, the national electricity generation was 123.1 billion kilowatt hours, while the electricity consumption was slightly higher at 124.6 billion kilowatt hours, indicating that the supply-demand gap still exists.

The total installed capacity of the country has increased from 25.3 gigawatts to 26.7 gigawatts, freeing up space for new energy projects. Against the backdrop of energy transition and power shortage, Kazakhstan is accelerating the introduction of international capital and manufacturing capabilities, and the Zhanaocen project is a typical representative of this trend.

Collaborative development of hybrid energy and local manufacturing

In 2024, Kazakhstan's national oil and gas company KazMunayGas (KMG) and Eni launched the construction of a 247 MW hybrid power plant in Zhanaocen, including 50 MW of solar power, 77 MW of wind power, and 120 MW of natural gas. The solar power station is scheduled to be put into operation in September 2025, and the wind and gas power stations will be completed in 2026, ultimately operating at full capacity as a single hybrid energy complex.

It is worth noting that on September 2, 2025, the first wind power component production base in Shangbier region will be put into operation, producing core components such as pods, hubs, and towers to provide support for localized supply of projects. This layout not only reduces equipment procurement costs, but also drives local employment and industrial upgrading.

The Zhanaocen mixed energy project is an important example of Kazakhstan's energy transformation, which has built a complete industrial chain loop by introducing international capital, Chinese manufacturing capabilities, and local capital to participate deeply. Against the backdrop of a continuously widening gap in electricity supply and demand, this project not only alleviates energy supply pressure, but also drives industrial upgrading through localized manufacturing, providing a replicable model for the development of new energy in Kazakhstan and even Central Asia.Editor/Yang Meiling