Kazakhstan to Host Regional Summit on Just Energy Transition and Green Investment

In two weeks, Astana will host the Regional Environmental Summit (RES 2026), a major international forum focused on Central Asia's most pressing ecological challenges. The event's centerpiece will be a panel session organized by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy titled "Just Energy Transition: Policy, Investment, and Human Capital in Central Asia."

The transition to renewable energy sources is a key instrument for ensuring energy security and sustainable development on the path to carbon neutrality. Kazakhstan's renewable sector is already showing strong momentum, with 162 operational facilities boasting a total capacity of 3.5 GW. In 2025, green generation accounted for 7% of the nation's total energy balance.

Last year alone, nine new stations with a capacity of 503 MW were added to the grid. The actual electricity output from renewable sources reached 8.6 billion kWh, surpassing planned targets by an impressive 19.4%.

For 2026, the ministry aims to increase clean energy production to 8.8 billion kWh. The implementation plan includes launching ten new projects with a combined capacity of 245 MW: four wind farms, five solar plants, and one hydroelectric station.

A significant legislative step will be the adoption of the Law "On Alternative Energy Sources" and an update to the Hydrogen Energy Development Concept until 2040. The primary tool for attracting investment remains the auction mechanism, with a total volume of 6.7 GW planned for the period from 2024 to 2027.

Special attention is being paid to strengthening international partnerships for constructing mega-projects involving wind power stations equipped with modern energy storage systems. Construction has already begun in Zhambyl region on a 1 GW station by French company TotalEnergies. A similar project with Chinese corporation State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) has launched in Pavlodar region.

Furthermore, Masdar, a global leader in renewables, is commencing work on large-scale initiatives in Kazakhstan. In the long term until 2035, plans are in place to commission over 8 GW of new renewable capacity, which will enhance the stability of the national grid and lead to deep diversification of the energy balance.

The Regional Environmental Summit (RES 2026) aims to unite Central Asian nations and other states to tackle critical environmental issues like climate change, water resource degradation, and sustainable natural resource management.

Scheduled for April 22-24 in Astana, RES 2026 is expected to bring together approximately 1,500 delegates from governments, international organizations, businesses, and scientific communities.

The initiative to host this summit in partnership with the UN was announced by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the UN General Assembly's seventy-eighth session in September 2023.