As of 2024, Kazakhstan’s energy mix remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels, which account for approximately 85% of its electricity generation. Coal continues to be the dominant source, primarily due to the country’s vast domestic reserves and low extraction costs.
Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a global hub for green hydrogen, leveraging its vast wind and solar potential to target carbon neutrality by 2060. As of early 2026, the country has progressed from conceptual planning to concrete international investment agreements and pilot projects. These include Hyrasia One (Svevind Energy Group), which aims to produce up to 2 million tons of green hydrogen annually (or 11 million tons of ammonia); YPP Corporation (South Korea) a $3.1 billion framework agreement signed in July 2025 to build a green energy complex. The project will utilize 2 GW of wind and solar power to produce 75,000 tons of green hydrogen and 310,000 tons of green ammonia annually for domestic use and export; Eurasian Resources Group is building a $1.2 billion hydrogen-ready direct-reduced-iron (DRI) plant in Rudny, Green Iron Plant (ERG). Scheduled for commissioning in 2029, it will transition from natural gas to hydrogen as it becomes commercially viable. Germany established a dedicated Hydrogen Diplomacy Office in Astana to strengthen ties and facilitate technology transfer. Recent high-level discussions in February 2026 reaffirmed commitments to developing logistics corridors for hydrogen export to Europe. Kazakhstan and the EU have a strategic partnership focused on sustainable raw materials and renewable hydrogen. The country aims to meet approximately one-fifth of the EU’s projected import demand for green hydrogen by 2030. China Energy Corporation is interested in localizing production and creating regional hydrogen clusters.
The Ministry of Energy’s national hydrogen development concept through 2030 outlines several milestones:
2026: Initial use of hydrogen in combined-cycle power plants.
2027: Introduction of hydrogen into public transport systems.
2028: Launch of the first hydrogen filling stations.
Kazakhstan is exploring the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and pipeline options through the Caspian Sea to transport hydrogen (primarily in the form of ammonia) to global markets.