Kazakhstan is overhauling its approach to winter energy security by pairing a new artificial intelligence system for coal logistics with an increase in repair funding for its power infrastructure.

For the upcoming heating season, total coal requirement for the general public and the utility sector is estimated at 7.3 million tonnes, which represents a notable decrease from the 8.3 million tonnes actually consumed during the previous winter, Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov detailed the measures during a government meeting.

The ministry attributed this decline to the phased implementation of the national gasification scheme running through 2035, which is progressively curbing the reliance of specific regions on coal as gas supply networks expand.

To manage the reduced but still critical flow of solid fuel, the ministry has activated a unified digital platform that utilizes artificial intelligence and predictive analytics. This system is designed to monitor the entire supply chain in real time, tracking fuel from extraction and rail shipment to final delivery at the household level.

It has already integrated data from 36 coal mining enterprises, operational information on 29,000 gondola cars, the activities of 586 coal depot operators, and consumer records for more than 1.2 million individuals. This technological integration allows authorities to preemptively identify supply delays or shortage risks before they impact end-users.

Parallel to the coal supply oversight, the government has allocated 384 billion tenge ($835 million) for the preparation of the energy sector, marking a 9% increase compared to the previous year. The maintenance campaign is extensive, covering energy generation and grid reliability.

Furthermore, regional grid companies have planned repairs for transmission lines and substations, with completion rates currently at 91% and 84%, respectively. For heating infrastructure, 377 kilometers of networks are slated for repair, with 65% of that work already finalized.

The minister noted that the reliability push is yielding results, with a 5.6% decrease in technological failures at power plants during the first seven months of the year. Energy sources have stockpiled 4.2 million tonnes of coal and 137,000 tonnes of fuel oil, reserve levels that are 2% higher than last year. Starting in September, a schedule for the delivery of 255,000 tonnes of "social" fuel oil has been approved to bolster reserves.

The ministry is also navigating a significant expansion of generation capacity. Kazakhstan expects to commission approximately 2.6 GW of new capacity this year, with an additional 845 MW scheduled for 2027. Officials project that these facilities will allow the country to fully meet domestic electricity demand by the first quarter of 2027, potentially ending the year with a surplus that could support industrial growth and future exports.

Kazakhstan aims to add over 7.5 GW of coal-fired capacity by 2029, while simultaneously developing gas-fired and renewable sources to balance the grid.