ASTANA — Kazakhstan plans to build 21 new logistics centers by 2030, add 13.3 gigawatts of power generation capacity by 2029 and accelerate the digitalization of water resources, agriculture and geological data as the government works to implement President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state-of-the-nation address.
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The government outlined the measures at an Oct. 29 meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. The plans span transport infrastructure, access to energy, mineral exploration and the use of digital technologies to improve economic productivity.
Tokayev has called for Kazakhstan to strengthen its position as a logistics hub in Eurasia, modernize agriculture and geological exploration, and secure a sustainable energy surplus to meet rising domestic demand.
Kazakhstan to digitalize water resources and introduce AI in agriculture
Kazakhstan has developed a National Digital Water Resources System, and five reservoirs already have digital twins. The government plans to digitize all reservoirs by the end of 2027. Tokayev emphasized the importance of digital tools in water management, saying in his address that “for full and accurate accounting of water resources, it is critically important to make full use of digital tools.”
In agriculture, the government plans to introduce three platforms in stages: Smart Data Agro, Smart Farm and Smart Agro Platform.
The initiatives align with Tokayev’s call to modernize agriculture through technology and expand the use of AI. In his address, he described introducing AI in agriculture as a timely proposal that should be implemented without delay, linking modernization to higher agricultural productivity and Kazakhstan’s potential role in addressing future global food shortages.
Digital economy to expand income opportunities
More than 20 digital platforms already provide earning opportunities for more than 500,000 people in Kazakhstan, Minister of AI and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev said. The government plans to expand rural access to e-commerce, improve logistics infrastructure and provide digital skills training. It also intends to introduce a retraining platform integrated with employment systems.
The work will include connecting rural entrepreneurs to existing online marketplaces, expanding networks of parcel collection and delivery points, and organizing deliveries to remote settlements. In his address, Tokayev called for a people-centered digital economy, saying that “opportunities must not depend on where people live.” The government also plans to train people to use e-commerce platforms, digital tools and AI, Madiyev said.
Kazakhstan to launch 20 geological exploration projects
Kazakhstan has launched a state geological survey at a 1:50,000 scale for the first time as part of efforts to study the country’s mineral resources, Vice Minister of Industry and Construction Iran Sharkhan said.
Tokayev called Kazakhstan’s mineral resource base a strategic advantage and urged a fundamental change in geological exploration. “We must turn geology into a high-tech industry,” he said in his address, calling for advanced technologies to study the country’s subsoil and improve access to geological data.
Over the next three years, the government plans to implement 20 geological exploration projects covering about 100,000 square kilometers. Alongside traditional methods, the projects will use Ionic Leach technology, satellite data, unmanned aerial vehicles and AI to identify hidden mineral deposits. Preliminary indications of potential have already been obtained at seven sites. Areas with confirmed prospects are expected to be prepared for auction next year, Sharkhan said.
Tokayev also called for a national system to manage critical metal reserves, drawing on international experience and providing long-term financing mechanisms for projects in the mining and metallurgical sector.
The sector is undergoing extensive digitalization. The Unified Subsoil Use Platform contains more than 70,000 geological reports and 109,000 exploration coverage maps. All primary geological information has been digitized, representing about 4.8 million records.
Separately, Kazakhstan has approved a methodology for assessing the balance of industrial production capacity. The framework is intended to help evaluate new projects in light of market demand, existing industrial facilities and resource availability. Its findings will be considered when granting investment incentives.
Kazakhstan plans 21 new logistics centers by 2030
Kazakhstan will continue developing transport and logistics infrastructure, expanding international freight routes and digitalizing the sector as it seeks to strengthen its position as a leading logistics hub in Eurasia. In his address, Tokayev stressed the importance of logistics, calling it a key factor in the country’s progress. He warned that without developed transport logistics, even countries that currently hold leading positions would fall behind. Bektenov said international and domestic logistics, transport digitalization and electricity supply must be addressed in the context of major global transformations.
Kazakhstan currently has 46 logistics centers. Another 21 are planned by 2030, Vice Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev said. The country is also expanding its overseas terminal network to attract transit cargo. Three terminals are already operating, while seven projects are under development. Road and border checkpoint construction and modernization are continuing. Work on the Aral-Caspian highway began in August and is expected to be completed by the end of 2028. Preparatory work is underway this year for the Kokshetau-Petropavlovsk section, with construction scheduled to begin in 2027. The modernization of 37 road checkpoints is also underway, with completion planned by the end of 2027.
Kazakhstan also plans to strengthen its air cargo transit capacity. The country plans to modernize airport infrastructure, including runways and terminals, as well as refueling facilities and cargo terminals, over the next three years. The country has also begun upgrading its air navigation system. National cargo carrier Air Cargo has signed an aircraft supply agreement. Its first Airbus A340 is expected to arrive in November, followed by a second aircraft in March. The carrier’s fleet is expected to reach 10 aircraft in the longer term.
Transport digitalization is proceeding through the integration of information systems on the unified E-Kolik (E-vehicle) intelligent platform. The government is also working to eliminate paper-based consignment notes for domestic and international freight, with electronic permits and consignment notes being tested in several countries. The initiatives are expected to shorten processing times and improve transparency across entire cargo routes.
Kazakhstan targets 20% electricity capacity surplus by 2029
Kazakhstan plans to add 13.3 gigawatts of new power generation capacity by the end of 2029, including 7.4 gigawatts from conventional sources and 5.9 gigawatts from renewable energy, Vice Minister of Energy Bakytzhan Ilyas said. Tokayev identified energy shortages as a strategic challenge in his address, noting that rising industrial activity, construction, agriculture, digitalization and data center development would require substantially more electricity. He called for Kazakhstan to achieve a “sustainable energy surplus” by 2029.
The planned capacity additions are expected to cover electricity demand from households and the economy, including future energy-intensive AI infrastructure and large data centers, while creating a 20% surplus in generation capacity.
Coal-fired power plants currently account for 13.7 gigawatts of installed capacity, gas-fired plants for 7.1 gigawatts and large hydropower plants for 2.5 gigawatts. Renewable energy facilities account for 3.8 gigawatts.
Renewables generated 8.5% of Kazakhstan’s electricity in the first nine months of 2026, exceeding the planned 7% share, according to the Energy Ministry.
By the end of 2035, the country expects to commission at least 8.4 gigawatts of additional renewable energy capacity, including approximately 1.8 gigawatts of solar generation.
