Study on Waste-to-Energy Project in Almaty, the Republic of Kazakhstan

The basic concept for transition of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Green Economy was officially approved, and it promotes an economic growth based on the high energy efficiency, development of renewable energy technology and sets forth the sector-based objectives for the transition to Green Economy.

by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Environmental & Chemical Engineering Co., Ltd. EX Research Institute Ltd. Clean Association of TOKYO 2

For the waste sector, the ratio of recycling household garbage is set to be increased to 40% by 2030 and 50% by 2050. In addition, for the electricity sector, based on the Renewable Energy Act revised in 2013, the Ministry of Environment and Water Resource has been reviewing the FIT system and purchase prices, wherein Energy from waste has been included as an item of purchase.
However, in Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan, garbage from urban households is virtually buried directly without getting separated, causing environmental degradation around the city with foul odor and harmful insects and bugs. Moreover, generation of methane only worsens the greenhouse gas effect, thereby adversely affecting the global environment. Besides, in Almaty, half of the city’s demand for electricity relies on import and the heat supply is predicted to fall short of its demand in the future. Furthermore, cheap coal being used as the fuel for these energy resources is held attributable to the serious air pollution in Almaty city.