East Electricity Transmission

In 2018 KEGOC completed the largest infrastructure project in the industry, the construction of which started in 2014. For four years KEGOC constructed more than 1,700 km of lines and three new 500 kV substations: Semey, Aktogay, and Taldykorgan. Open switchgears were expanded at 1,150 kV Ekibastuzskaya substation, 500 kV Ust-Kamenogorsk substation, and 220 kV Shulbinskaya HPP OSG. 500 kV Alma substation was expanded and rehabilitated.

On 11 December 2018, the First President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, commissioned high-voltage 500 kV Shulbinskaya HPP (Semey) – Aktogai – Taldykorgan – Alma overhead transmission lines (second stage) by giving a go to KEGOC’s CEO, Bakytzhan Kazhiyev during the live national teleconference, which was held as part of the Industrialization Day.

Stage one, construction of 500 kV Ekibastuz – Shulbinsk HPP (Semey) – Ust-Kamenogorsk electricity transmission lines, was also put into operation during the teleconference on 6 December 2016.

The Yelbassy stressed the high importance of the project providing Taldykorgan and Almaty with electricity through East Kazakhstan.

The construction project extensively used equipment and materials produced by domestic manufacturers.

Implementation of this project increased the transmission capacity from the northern power plants to the southern regions of Kazakhstan from 1,450 MW to 2,100 MW.

The commissioning of this East electricity transmission project will give impetus to the development of renewable energy sources, in particular, small hydropower plants.

The project construction created more than 1,800 jobs during construction period, and 84 permanent jobs for its operation.

The aim of the 500 kV Ekibastuz – Shulbinsk HPP (Semey) – Ust-Kamenogorsk Electricity Transmission Project is to increase transmission capacity of the grid in North – East direction, cover deficits in the East Kazakhstan region by making it independent of the electricity transported through the Russian network, and ensure delivery of all power generated at Shulbinsk HPP after Bulak HPP, the counter regulator of Shulbinsk HPP, is put into operation.

Project description:

• construct 500 kV overhead transmission line (OHTL) Ekibastuz – Semey (405.7 km);
• construct 500 kV OHTL Semey – Ust-Kamenogorsk (192.8 km);
• construct 220 kV OHTL Semey – Shulbinsk HPP (78.9 km);
• construct the cross-connection lines for connection of 220 kV OHTL No.51 SS – No.18 SS (13.5 km) with 220 kV outdoor switchgear (OSG) at 500 kV Semey substation (SS);
• construct the cross-connection lines for connection of 220 kV OHTL No.18 SS – Shulbinsk SS (13.5 km) with 220 kV OSG at 500 kV Semey SS;
• construct 500 kV Semey SS;
• extend 500 kV OSG of 1,150 kV Ekibastuzskaya SS;
• extend 500 kV OSG of 500 kV Ust-Kamenogorskaya SS;
• extend 220 kV OSG of Shulbinsk HPP.

Project implementation period

Project cost

500 kV OHTL Shulbinsk HPP (Semey) –Aktogay – Taldykorgan – Alma Construction Project shall increase the transmission capacity of the national power grid in North-South direction, cover the consumption of electrified railways, energy intensive facilities of metal mining industry, create conditions for development of the cross-border territories and large scale development of renewable energy potential and strengthen the link with Zone East of the Kazakhstan Unified Power System.

Project description:

• construct 500 kV overhead transmission line (OHTL) Semey - Aktogai (393.54 km);
• construct 500 kV OHTL Aktogai – Taldykorgan (287.41 km);
• construct 500 kV OHTL Taldykorgan – Alma (203.78 km);
• construct 220 kV cross-connection lines for connection of 500 kV Taldykorgan SS (183.9 km);
• construct 500 kV Aktogai SS;
• construct 500 kV Taldykorgan SS;
• extend and rehabilitate 500 kV Alma SS;
• rehabilitate 500 kV Semey SS.

Implementation period

Project cost