At the Mangystau Atomic Energy Combine (MAEC), the number of identified violations of industrial safety requirements rose from 20 in 2023 to 36 in 2025. The enterprise supplies electricity, heat and water to Aktau, other settlements and enterprises in the Mangystau region.
WHAT IS KNOWN
According to BES.media, citing the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES), the number of identified violations at MAEC increased for three consecutive years. In 2023, the ministry recorded 20 violations, in 2024 — 22, and in 2025 — 36. Thus, over two years the figure rose by 80%.
At a number of other large energy enterprises, however, the trend was the opposite. At the power station of the branch of JSC "Aluminium of Kazakhstan", the number of violations fell from 50 in 2023 to 30 in 2026. At the heat station of "Kazchrome", the figure after 25 violations in 2023 stood at 20 in each of the following three years. At Ekibastuz GRES-2, the number of violations dropped from 47 in 2023 to 32 in 2025.
WHICH VIOLATIONS CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS
The MES stated that potentially accident-causing factors include the absence of timely technical certification of equipment and inspection of devices whose standard service life has expired. The ministry included in the same list the absence of production control and inspection of buildings and structures.
Among other risk factors, the MES named the wear and tear of heating networks, insufficient capacity, a shortage of qualified personnel and cyber-attacks.
WHAT FAILURES OCCURRED AT MAEC
In 2023, a series of emergency situations occurred at the enterprise. In May, after the shutdown of two power units, electricity generation fell from 555 to 264 MW, after which restrictions on electricity supply affected oil-producing companies in the Mangystau region.
In August, after the failure of two more power units, electricity production fell from 545 to 245 MW. Individual settlements in the Mangystau region were left without electricity, and the authorities then introduced rolling blackouts lasting three to five hours for the duration of the repairs.
WHAT REMAINS A PROBLEM
MAEC supplies electricity, heat and water to Aktau, other settlements and enterprises in the region. At the same time, a significant part of the combine's infrastructure and equipment, according to the context provided, is heavily worn.
Gas costs also create a financial burden on the enterprise. In 2024, QazaqGaz Aimaq reported MAEC's debt for gas in the amount of 16 billion tenge. By September 2026, the company estimated the debt at 36.5 billion tenge.
CONTEXT
Problems with the technical condition of MAEC were discussed back in 2023. At that time, the enterprise's wear stood at almost 80%, and its capacity was already insufficient amid population growth and the emergence of new energy-consuming facilities. In May 2023, from the reserve of the akimat of the Mangystau region, MAEC received 2.6 billion tenge for modernisation.
In the summer of 2023, an accident at MAEC led to a large-scale electricity supply failure in western Kazakhstan. After the emergency shutdown of power unit No. 1, the Mangystau region switched to isolated operation, and electricity disruptions affected oil-producing enterprises and the Atyrau refinery.
Following the investigation, the state commission identified a high level of accident rates at regional stations and shortcomings in the planning of repair work.
After the accidents, the Government allocated about 4.9 billion tenge for the repair of MAEC. The funds were intended for the purchase of equipment and components that were in an emergency condition. The list of measures also included the modernisation and reconstruction of the enterprise and the strengthening of the energy system of the western region.
