Astana, May 7 - Neftegaz.RU. Kazakhstan inaugurated a new solar power plant in Mangystau, in the Caspian country’s western region that borders the northeastern shore of the Caspian Sea. According to the Caspian news the plant covers approximately 90 acres and consists of 8,000 solar panels, which regional officials hope will become a successful model for renewable energy and one of Kazakhstan’s largest.
With a capacity of 2 megawatts, the plant is equipped with environmentally friendly and modern equipment, and is expected to provide 300 nearby houses with electricity. The facility is the 1st ‘green’ facility in Kazakhstan – a country that gets over 86 % of its energy demand satisfied by fossil fuels, according to U.S. government data.
«Another feature of the project is that 90 % of the components are produced in Kazakhstan», the mayor of Mangystau, Eraly Tugzhanov said at the inauguration of the plant.
Valued at roughly $3.6 million, the project is supported by the national government via its «Roadmap of Business 2020.» Launched in 2015, the 5-year plan is aimed at supporting new business initiatives and export-oriented production.
In a country right in natural resources such as oil, natural gas, anthracite and bituminous coal, it is not surprising that only 0.3 % of energy comes from renewables. Yet despite the easy access to fossil fuels, Central Asia’s wealthiest country intends to generate 50 % of its electricity from renewables by the year 2050.
