Construction has officially begun on a modern waste-to-energy facility in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, following a capsule-laying ceremony attended by Mayor Gabit Syzdykbekov and executives of Shaanxi Construction Engineering Kazakhstan Co., Ltd.
The large-scale investment project is being implemented in line with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s initiatives to improve waste management, develop environmental infrastructure, and introduce advanced recycling technologies. It also supports the nationwide Taza Kazakhstan environmental campaign aimed at protecting the environment and improving residents’ quality of life.
The new facility is designed to process up to 1,000 tons of municipal solid waste per day while generating as much as 24 MWh of electricity from thermal waste treatment.
The project involves approximately 54 billion tenge in direct investment. Construction is scheduled to take place between 2026 and 2028, and the facility is expected to create at least 80 permanent jobs once operational.
After completion, the complex is expected to significantly reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, lower the environmental impact of municipal waste, and introduce advanced waste-processing technologies. The remaining ash from the recycling process will also be used to manufacture construction materials.
The project is the result of growing cooperation between Kazakhstan and China. In 2024, as part of efforts to strengthen sister-city relations between Shymkent and Xi’an, city officials visited several industrial enterprises and held negotiations with potential investors together with Kazakhstan’s Consul General in Xi’an, Zhoshykhan Kyrabayev.
These discussions led to a cooperation agreement with Shaanxi Construction Engineering, a company experienced in developing similar environmental infrastructure projects. Later that year, the Shymkent city administration signed a memorandum of cooperation with the company, while Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources concluded an investment agreement with the investor.
“Today we are laying the foundation for one of Shymkent’s most important environmental projects. This facility will modernize the city’s waste management system, introduce advanced recycling technologies, and improve the overall environmental situation. I would like to thank our partners and investors for their trust and cooperation,” Mayor Gabit Syzdykbekov said.