Helping Kazakhstan to go green

Natural gas produces nearly half as much CO₂ per unit of energy compared with coal. It is widely considered a bridge fuel that can help countries reduce their carbon emissions while they move from fossil fuels to renewable, carbon-neutral forms of energy.

In order to help Kazakhstan reduce its dependence on coal and use more domestically produced natural gas, the Bank invested in two projects by subsidiaries of national gas firm KazTransGas. Total EBRD financing, mainly in local currency, was equivalent to €319 million.

The first project will increase the capacity of a natural gas storage facility in Bozoi in western Kazakhstan to ensure a reliable supply of the fuel to the densely populated south-east of the country. The second venture involves the expansion and upgrade of the natural gas distribution network in several regions of Kazakhstan.