Kazakhstan's heating season is underway in every region. Although electricity and heat supplies are generally stable, residents of Aktau, Pavlodar and Petropavl have reported heating problems, prompting new instructions from Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, according to the official information published by the Government of Kazakhstan.
At a Government meeting chaired by Bektenov, officials reviewed the readiness of power plants, electricity networks and heating infrastructure for the 2026–2027 autumn-winter period, DKNews.kz reports.
The Prime Minister instructed regional authorities to respond more quickly to public complaints, prepare emergency crews for winter conditions and maintain stable coal supplies.
Heating season underway across Kazakhstan
Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov reported that all regions have started the heating season and that consumers are receiving electricity and thermal energy.
According to the Ministry of Energy, repairs to electrical and heating networks have been completed in full.
Maintenance work at power plants is continuing, with the following progress reported:
- Power units: 8 of 9 scheduled repairs completed.
- Boilers: 49 of 50 scheduled repairs completed.
- Turbines: 37 of 51 scheduled repairs completed.
This leaves one power unit, one boiler and 14 turbines awaiting completion of scheduled repairs.
The Ministry of Energy and regional administrations have been instructed to complete the remaining work according to approved schedules while maintaining the necessary equipment reserves.
Residents report heating problems in three cities
Despite the overall assessment that the heating season is proceeding routinely, the Government acknowledged complaints about heating quality and interruptions.
Appeals have been received from residents of Aktau, Pavlodar and Petropavl.
The information presented at the meeting did not specify the number of complaints, the duration of interruptions or the number of affected households.
Bektenov instructed regional akims to strengthen the work of their heating-season coordination headquarters and respond promptly to residents' concerns.
Local authorities must also ensure that emergency response teams and specialized equipment are ready to operate during severe winter weather.
The objective is to resolve local heating problems without allowing them to develop into more serious disruptions.
Bektenov emphasizes modernization of energy infrastructure
The Prime Minister linked preparations for winter to Kazakhstan's wider programme of modernizing energy and utility infrastructure.
«In his Address to the People, the Head of State noted the importance of constructing and repairing energy facilities, engineering networks, and infrastructure. The modernization of housing and communal services facilities is a main component of this work,» the Prime Minister emphasized.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has repeatedly highlighted the need to construct new power plants, upgrade existing generation facilities and modernize electricity transmission lines.
The Government is also pursuing the development of cleaner coal-fired generation and renewable energy sources.
Significant funding is being directed toward repairing and modernizing energy infrastructure in 2026.
These investments are intended to improve the reliability of electricity and heat supplies while addressing the deterioration of existing facilities.
Kazakhstan to address shortage of energy specialists
Another priority discussed at the meeting was the shortage of qualified professionals in the energy and housing and utilities sectors.
The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of developing a sustainable workforce capable of operating and maintaining modern infrastructure.
Particular attention was given to:
- Training professional power engineers and technical specialists.
- Maintaining continuity between experienced employees and new recruits.
- Strengthening practical skills and industry-specific competencies.
- Preparing specialists for the development of nuclear energy.
- Addressing workforce shortages across housing and communal services.
The Ministries of Science and Higher Education, Education, and Energy, together with regional akimats, have been instructed to develop an action plan to address staffing shortages.
The plan is expected to support both existing utility systems and the development of new energy technologies.
Coal prices and supplies placed under special control
Regional administrations have also been instructed to monitor coal supplies for households throughout the heating season.
Bektenov emphasized the need to ensure that residents can purchase coal at stable prices.
This is particularly important for households that rely on solid fuel for heating rather than centralized heating networks.
Local authorities must maintain oversight of coal availability and respond to supply problems that could affect residents during colder periods.
Social facilities to receive priority attention
The Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Energy and regional akimats to ensure stable, high-quality heating throughout the winter.
Special attention must be paid to social facilities, where interruptions can affect large numbers of people and disrupt essential services.
Regional authorities are expected to maintain operational readiness, ensure the availability of repair equipment and coordinate responses to potential emergencies.
The Government's immediate priorities include completing scheduled maintenance, addressing complaints from residents and preventing disruptions as winter demand increases.
Who will oversee the heating season?
Overall coordination of the Government's instructions has been assigned to First Deputy Prime Minister Nurlybek Nalibayev.
The Ministry of Energy will continue monitoring the condition of energy facilities, while regional akimats remain responsible for resolving local heating issues and maintaining coal supplies.
Although the heating season has begun without major nationwide disruptions, the complaints from Aktau, Pavlodar and Petropavl demonstrate the importance of monitoring service quality at the local level.
The effectiveness of the Government's measures will depend on how quickly regional authorities resolve individual problems and complete outstanding repairs.
Earlier, we reported on Kazakhstan's preparations for the heating season and investments in energy infrastructure, including repairs to power plants and utility networks intended to improve winter reliability.
