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Kazakhmys Balkhash power station90 MW Coal

Coal

The Kazakhmys Balkhash power station is a key infrastructure asset in Kazakhstan's power generation grid, located on the continent of Asia. Designated as a fossil fuel electricity generation station, the facility features an installed capacity of 90 MW. Its primary operation relies on harnessing coal energy resources to generate bulk electricity. Operational management and ownership of the facility are handled by the Kazakhmys plc, which oversees daily maintenance and grid dispatch integration. The facility was officially connected to the commercial grid in 1976, since which it has maintained regular output, playing a structured role in domestic power supply security. In terms of domestic production capacity within Kazakhstan, Kazakhmys Balkhash power station occupies the #37 position among all operational coal power plants. Its 90 MW capacity represents a 0.31% share of Kazakhstan's total installed coal generating capacity, which currently stands at 29,384 MW. The largest operational coal installation in Kazakhstan is the Ekibastuz GRES-1 with an output of 4,000 MW, making the Kazakhmys Balkhash power station approximately 44.4 times smaller by comparison. Across all fuel types and electricity generation technologies country-wide, this facility accounts for 0.2122% of Kazakhstan's aggregate generation capacity of 42,418 MW. Based on historical capacity factors characteristic of coal power plants (modeled at 55% for analysis), the facility's expected annual electricity generation is calculated at approximately 433,620 MWh. Applying domestic consumption statistics where an average household in Kazakhstan consumes 3 MWh of electricity annually, this level of production is sufficient to meet the energy demands of roughly 144,540 homes. By utilizing traditional thermal power processes, the station delivers reliable dispatchable energy to the grid, supporting grid resilience during periods of low renewable resource availability and satisfying industrial base-load demands. The physical site of the station is located at geographic coordinates 46.8290° latitude and 74.9493° longitude. Analysis of local grid infrastructure shows a density of other assets within a 50-kilometer radius. These nearby facilities include Balkhash CHP station (gas, 115 MW), representing a cluster of localized power assets. This geographic placement is vital for reinforcing regional distribution infrastructure and minimizing transmission line losses across this sector of Kazakhstan.

Capacity
90 MW
Commissioning Year
1976

50 years old

Owner
Kazakhmys plc
Location
46.8290°, 74.9493°

Kazakhstan, Asia

Location

Coordinates:: 46.829000, 74.949300
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Carbon Footprint820 g CO₂/kWh
Annual CO₂
355.6 Kt
434 GWh/year × 820 g/kWh
Cumulative CO₂
17.78 Mt
Over 50 years of operation
Past Retirement
2016
10 years past expected retirement
Annual emissions equivalent to
77.3K
cars per year
47.4K
homes per year
16.2M
trees to offset

Estimates based on Coal emission factor (820 g CO₂/kWh) and capacity factor (55%). Actual emissions may vary based on operating conditions, efficiency, and fuel quality.

Technical Details

Primary Fuel Type
Coal
Energy Source
Non-Renewable
Country
Kazakhstan
Continent
Asia
Data Source
Global Power Station Database

KazakhstanEnergy Profile

123
Total Stations
42.4 GW
Total Capacity
CoalHydroGasSolar
Top Fuels

Coal as a Power Generation Energy Source: An Overview

Coal has been a cornerstone of electricity generation for over a century, accounting for a significant share of global energy production. As of now, there are approximately 2,608 coal power plants worldwide, distributed across 74 countries, with a total installed capacity of around 2,257.3 gigawatts (GW). The leading countries in coal power generation include China, which operates 1,018 plants with a capacity of 1,038.0 GW, followed by India with 287 plants at 253.3 GW, and the United States with 291 plants at 252.0 GW. Other notable contributors include Germany and Japan, which have 130 and 61 plants, respectively, with capacities of 76.8 GW and 63.9 GW.

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