Zhanazhol 3 power station — Kazakhstan

Zhanazhol 3 power station is a 160 MW gas power station in Mugalzhar, Kazakhstan. It is operated by CNPC-AktobeMunaiGaz JSC [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 180k homes (estimated). It ranks #57 of 80 Kazakhstan power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2016, it is around 10 years old — relatively modern. In context, gas supplies about 29.4% of Kazakhstan's electricity; the national grid averages 805 gCO₂/kWh (14.9% low-carbon) (2025).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GOGPT_zhanazhol3_kazakh.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000406889; fuel: GEM GOGPT

In context: how this plant compares

At 160 MW, Zhanazhol 3 power station is below the median gas plant in Kazakhstan (250 MW). Technically it is described as Steam. Gas plants burn natural gas either in open-cycle turbines for fast peaking, or in combined-cycle units that recover exhaust heat in an HRSG to reach roughly 55–62% efficiency — the cleanest-burning fossil option.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

Key facts

Share of Kazakhstan gas capacity

1.2% of 13,872 MW across 35 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

9 of 30 dated gas plants in Kazakhstan are older

Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).

Capacity vs largest gas plants in Kazakhstan

Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).

Owner

Operated by CNPC-AktobeMunaiGaz JSC [100%].

Climate zone & how it works

This gas plant burns natural gas in a turbine — often in a combined-cycle setup — to generate electricity. It sits in a cold semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSk) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 48.4°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Climate zone & typical temperatures: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid).

How it compares & nearby plants

The #25 largest gas power plant of 35 in Kazakhstan by capacity.

Kazakhstan has 35 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 13,872 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Altaaqa Global Aktobe power station · Gas · 82.8 MW · Aktobe

Location

Coordinates 48.386782, 57.433541 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions