Coal production in Kazakhstan declined in January 2026 despite the government’s long-term plans to expand coal-fired power generation capacity.
According to official statistics, output of thermal coal reached 9.92 million tonnes in January, down 1.7% compared to the same period last year. Total coal production, including coking grades, amounted to 10.31 million tonnes, reflecting a year-on-year decrease of 0.7%.
The modest start to the year comes as the government prepares a coal power development programme through 2030, which предусматривает the commissioning and modernisation of approximately 7.6 GW of thermal power capacity.
In 2023–2024, Kazakhstan’s thermal power plants consumed around 55 million tonnes of coal annually. With the rollout of new energy projects, additional demand could rise by up to 16 million tonnes per year, requiring increased output and more stable supply chains.
Bogaty r Komir, the country’s largest private coal producer, plans to raise production to 45.2 million tonnes in 2026 and further expand to 56.5 million tonnes by 2032. The company’s primary resource base is the Ekibastuz deposit, which holds estimated reserves of approximately 2.4 billion tonnes.
For full-year 2025, Kazakhstan’s total coal production reached 115.9 million tonnes, marking an increase of around 6.5% compared with the previous year.
