Proprietary data
Data Center Power & Policy in Kazakhstan
Every government action on data centers and power in Kazakhstan that we have verified: moratoriums, grid rules, incentives, tariffs and plans, with the power indicators that drive site selection.
By Amit Jain
Reviewed by Deepti Agrawal
Updated 8 October 2026
In short
As of 8 October 2026, DC Market Insights tracks 8 government actions on data centers and power in Kazakhstan, 1 of them in force. We have found no moratorium or restriction on new data centers in force in Kazakhstan.
Market snapshot
Kazakhstan power and policy: key facts
- Renewable share of electricity generation: 14.6% (2025). Rank 14 of 18 tracked countries, highest first.
- Grid emission factor: 0.81 kgCO2/kWh (2025). Rank 1 of 13 tracked countries, highest first.
- Latest change: Draft Cloud First Policy (Data Embassy) (Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 13 Aug 2026).
- By type: 3 plan or strategy, 2 regulation, 1 power tariff and 1 grid access.
Power indicators for Kazakhstan
Latest official figure for each indicator, with earlier years where we have them.
In force now in Kazakhstan
Regulation (1)
Law on the development of the telecommunications market and data processing centres
The President signed the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan 'On amendments and additions to certain legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the development of the telecommunications market and data processing centres'. Akorda states the text of the law is published in the press; the release gives no effective date and does not describe the provisions.
Announced and proposed
Measures that are not yet in force. Status changes when the rule takes effect or is withdrawn.
Draft Cloud First Policy (Data Embassy)
At the 13 August 2026 government meeting on the Data Center Valley in Pavlodar Region, the preparation of a draft Cloud First Policy (Data Embassy) was reviewed. The draft would allow data of foreign states to be hosted in Kazakhstan, with those states keeping legal sovereignty over it. The release gives no timeline for the policy. The same meeting reported the first 50 MW Valley facility under construction, with commissioning targeted for June 2027.
Long-term fixed electricity tariff of about 2.5 US cents/kWh for Data Center Valley investors (under study)
In reply to an official request from Forbes Kazakhstan, the Ministry of AI and Digital Development said it is working on a mechanism to fix electricity tariffs long term for investors in the Data Center Valley in Ekibastuz, at about 2.5 cents per kWh, within a separate tariff contour. The mechanism is still being worked out and no adopted act is named.
2.5 US cents/kWh Approximate level; about 25 USD/MWh; not adopted.
'70/30' mechanism: data centres and digital miners as direct offtakers of new or modernised generation
The Ministry of AI and Digital Development and the Ministry of Energy are running a mechanism to attract private investment into modernising, rebuilding and expanding existing power plants. Up to 70% of the added capacity may be sold directly to large consumers (data centres and digital miners) and the other 30% goes to the Unified Power System of Kazakhstan. The source names the adopted law on the development of the telecommunications market and data centres, which classed data centres as strategic facilities, as the basis of the mechanism.
70 % of added capacity sold directly to DCs Remaining 30% to the Unified Power System; no official ministry text opened.
Government announces USD 10 bn package of AI agreements with Firebird and NVIDIA for the Data Center Valley
The government announced a USD 10 bn package of AI agreements with Firebird and NVIDIA for the Data Center Valley in Ekibastuz. The agreements listed are a strategic cooperation agreement between the Ministry of AI and Digital Development and Firebird, and a Binding Term Sheet between KT-Telecom LLP and Firebird. 300 MW is available now, with phased growth to 1 GW and a computing cluster of 100,000 GPUs.
10 USD bn agreement package 300 MW available now; planned up to 1 GW.
Data Center Valley: preferential power-supply tariff model approved and investment and tax preferences fixed
At an April 2026 government meeting on the Data Center Valley, it was reported that a 215 MW substation was acquired, a preferential power-supply tariff model was approved and the necessary investment and tax preferences were fixed. Preliminary demand exceeds 100 MW and total potential is up to 1 GW. The release does not name the legal act that sets the tariff or the preferences.
215 MW substation acquired Tariff level and preference terms not given in the source; no legal act named, so status kept as announced.
Data Center Valley: 1.4 thousand ha allocated, Tier III and PUE 1.25 infrastructure, additional state-support mechanisms in development
The government reported that land plots totalling 1.4 thousand ha have been allocated for the Data Center Valley campus, with an energy potential of up to 1 GW, and that a substation is being acquired. A Greenfield zone of up to 100 MW is planned for international partners and four AI data centre stages of 50 MW each are planned. The infrastructure is to meet Tier III with a PUE of 1.25. The government is developing additional state-support mechanisms for investors and participants.
1,400 ha Greenfield zone up to 100 MW; PUE 1.25 target.
Data Center Valley in Ekibastuz: 200 ha site designated near Ekibastuz GRES-1 with investor conditions on the SEZ principle
At a meeting on carrying out the President's instructions, the government reported a 200 ha land plot designated near Ekibastuz GRES-1 for the Data Center Valley, with the possibility of expanding the territory to over 1,300 ha in future. The plan includes 15 km of power lines and step-down substations of 300 MW, with possible expansion to 1 GW using the Ekibastuz energy hub. Investor conditions are to cover infrastructure, tariff setting and tax preferences on the principle of special economic zones. Ministries, the Pavlodar akimat and Kazakhtelecom were instructed to provide conditions and infrastructure.
200 ha Substations 300 MW, expandable to 1 GW.
Timeline of data center and power policy in Kazakhstan
| Date | Action | Type | Status | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Aug 2026 | Draft Cloud First Policy (Data Embassy) | Regulation | Proposed | Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan |
| 4 Jul 2026 | Long-term fixed electricity tariff of about 2.5 US cents/kWh for Data Center Valley investors (under study) Pavlodar Region (Ekibastuz) | Power tariff | Proposed | Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development (as quoted) |
| 2 Jul 2026 | '70/30' mechanism: data centres and digital miners as direct offtakers of new or modernised generation | Grid access | Announced | Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development; Ministry of Energy |
| 19 Jun 2026 | Law on the development of the telecommunications market and data processing centres | Regulation | In force | President of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Parliament |
| 15 Jun 2026 | Government announces USD 10 bn package of AI agreements with Firebird and NVIDIA for the Data Center Valley Pavlodar Region (Ekibastuz) | Plan or strategy | Announced | Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development; Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan |
| 17 Apr 2026 | Data Center Valley: preferential power-supply tariff model approved and investment and tax preferences fixed Pavlodar Region (Ekibastuz) | Incentive | Announced | Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Prime Minister) |
| 25 Feb 2026 | Data Center Valley: 1.4 thousand ha allocated, Tier III and PUE 1.25 infrastructure, additional state-support mechanisms in development Pavlodar Region (Ekibastuz) | Plan or strategy | Announced | Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Prime Minister) |
| 30 Jan 2026 | Data Center Valley in Ekibastuz: 200 ha site designated near Ekibastuz GRES-1 with investor conditions on the SEZ principle Pavlodar Region (Ekibastuz) | Plan or strategy | Announced | Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Prime Minister); Pavlodar Region akimat |
How Kazakhstan compares
Latest official figures for the countries we track.
| Country | Industrial power price | Renewable share | Grid emission factor | Restrictions in force | Incentives in force |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | — | 39% (2025) | — | 0 | 2 |
| Bangladesh | — | 2% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| France | 104 USD/MWh (2025) | 27% (2025) | 0.02 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 1 |
| Germany | 180 USD/MWh (2025) | 58.8% (2025) | 0.34 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 1 | 0 |
| India | 82.1 USD/MWh (2025) | 28.7% (2026) | 0.68 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 5 |
| Indonesia | 62.9 USD/MWh (2024) | 16.3% (2025) | 0.68 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 1 |
| Ireland | 234 USD/MWh (2025) | 41.3% (2024) | 0.20 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 2 | 0 |
| Japan | — | 23.1% (2024) | 0.45 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| Kazakhstan | — | 14.6% (2025) | 0.81 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 0 |
| Malaysia | 105 USD/MWh (2026) | 21% (2025) | 0.74 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 1 | 1 |
| Netherlands | 148 USD/MWh (2025) | 49% (2025) | 0.20 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 4 | 0 |
| Pakistan | 97.5 USD/MWh (2026) | 34.7% (2025) | — | 0 | 1 |
| Singapore | 189 USD/MWh (2025) | 2.1% (2024) | 0.40 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| South Korea | — | 9.8% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| United Arab Emirates | 120 USD/MWh (2026) | 8.8% (2024) | 0.47 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| United Kingdom | 234 USD/MWh (2026) | 52.1% (2025) | 0.15 kgCO2/kWh (2026) | 1 | 1 |
| United States | 86.2 USD/MWh (2025) | 24% (2025) | 0.35 kgCO2/kWh (2023) | 0 | 1 |
| Uzbekistan | 83.3 USD/MWh (2026) | 19.4% (2025) | — | 1 | 0 |
Questions
Is there a data center moratorium in Kazakhstan?
We have found no moratorium or restriction on new data centers in force in Kazakhstan as of 8 October 2026. Proposed or announced measures, if any, are listed in the timeline.
How much of Kazakhstan’s electricity is renewable?
Renewables supplied 14.6% of electricity generation in Kazakhstan in 2025.
Where does this data come from?
Each action comes from a page we opened: a law, regulation, gazette notice, ministry or regulator release, grid operator notice or investment agency page, and only when official text is not available a company or trade publication. A second analyst re-opens the source before an item is published. Government sources are linked on the page; all sources come with the Excel data.
What counts as a restriction or moratorium?
A government or grid operator rule that stops, pauses, caps or conditions new data center capacity or grid connections, for a country or a region within it. Proposals are shown as proposed until they take effect.
How are power prices compared?
We use each country’s official statistics for industrial or non-household electricity, converted to US dollars per MWh at the average rate for the year where needed, and show the year and source. Contract prices for data centers can differ.
How often is it updated?
Countries are reviewed on a rolling schedule and changes are added as they are announced. Each item shows the date of the action.
Choosing a market or a site?
Our analysts prepare country briefings on power, grid access, incentives and permits, with every source, in Excel.