Kazakhstan plans to add small hydropower generating capacity at the Kargaly reservoir in the western Aktobe region as part of a comprehensive infrastructure upgrade, according to state water management operator Kazvodkhoz. Project design documentation has been completed and submitted to authorities for state technical review.
Along with the construction of the small hydroelectric facility, the planned work includes the rehabilitation of the dam structure, water outlet installations, and the flood spillway. The project scope also covers modernizing an 18-kilometer main irrigation canal connected to the reservoir. A construction timeline has not yet been established pending official approvals.
The Kargaly facility operates under regular operational load to supply water to local agricultural producers. During the most recent May-to-September growing season, the reservoir supplied 27.7 million cubic meters of water for irrigation. Two other regional reservoirs, Aktobe and Sazdy, provided 28.5 million cubic meters and 2.6 million cubic meters respectively over the same timeframe.
Regional water infrastructure supports irrigation across 11,000 hectares of farmland cultivated with grains, oilseeds, fodder crops, and vegetables. Upgrading the hydraulic assets is intended to lower structural risks in regional water supply while delivering supplemental electricity to the local grid.
