Construction is set to begin on a major waste-to-energy plant in Almaty, marking a new step in Kazakhstan’s push toward greener infrastructure and cleaner urban development.

Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov met with Dai Daoguo, Chairman of the Board of Hunan Junxin Environmental Protection Co., Ltd - a leading Chinese waste-to-energy company - following the signing of an investment agreement for the project, The Caspian Post reports via Kazinform.

The plant will be built in Almaty with a total investment of 145.5 billion tenge and is scheduled to begin construction on May 29, 2026, with completion expected within two years.

Once operational, the facility will process up to 2,000 tons of waste per day and generate as much as 60 MW of electricity, turning municipal waste into a source of clean energy.

The project will significantly reduce environmental pressure, cutting CO₂ emissions by around 200,000 tons annually and saving approximately 800,000 cubic meters of landfill space each year.

The construction phase is expected to create around 700 temporary jobs, while 120 permanent positions will be available once the plant becomes operational.

Bektenov stressed that environmental protection is a national priority, highlighting the government’s commitment to ecological modernization through advanced technologies and foreign investment partnerships.

The project also includes plans for three green energy centers designed to support stable electricity supply, heating systems for industrial and municipal needs, and integration with digital infrastructure during winter periods.

The Almaty project follows similar waste-to-energy developments in Astana, as Kazakhstan expands cooperation with international partners to modernize its energy and environmental sectors.