On Monday, February 24, during his working visit to Almaty, the Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan (FTURK), Satybaldy Dauletalin, visited the Almaty CHP-2 named after A. Zhakutov, a branch of JSC “Almaty Power Stations” (“AlES”). There, he reviewed the construction progress of the new gas power plant and met with the workforce.
JSC “AlES” is an energy-producing company engaged in the generation of heat and electricity in the city of Almaty and the Almaty region, as well as the production of chemically purified hot water for Almaty. The company is part of the “Samruk-Energo” holding group.
The heat and electricity generated by AlES facilities cover more than 70% of the energy needs of Almaty and its surrounding region. CHP-2 is one of the key facilities within AlES. The total number of employees at JSC “Almaty Power Stations” is 3,087, of whom 675 work at CHP-2.
It is worth noting that environmental issues have long been a pressing concern in Almaty. At Almaty CHP-2, a modernization project is being implemented to minimize environmental impact — a next-generation gas power plant is currently under construction alongside the existing plant. The commissioning of the new facility is planned for December 2026.
“The main goal of the modernization of CHP-2 is to reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere without compromising the reliability and efficiency of energy supply. Currently, annual emissions amount to 37.1 thousand tons. With the launch of the new gas power plant, this figure will drop to about 2.7 thousand tons,” said Yerbol Uteshev, Acting Director of the Department for Ongoing Construction Projects.
After inspecting the construction site, the FTURK Chairman toured the company’s social infrastructure and held a meeting with the workforce.
Serik Tymbasbayev, Chairman of the local trade union “Energia,” and his colleagues — representatives of primary trade union organizations — shared details about their union activities.
“Social partnership in our energy company has existed for 20 years. During this time, we have adopted seven editions of the collective agreement. One of the key achievements is the annual indexation of employee salaries. Since January of this year, the increase has been 6.5%. An additional indexation is currently under consideration,” said CHP-2 union leader Nazira Kadyrkulova.
The company also supports the work of technical inspectors, who receive a quarterly bonus of 5 monthly calculation indices (MCIs). According to union youth leader Aset Ashirbekov, the AlES management regularly meets with young employees to discuss the company’s energy development strategy.
Addressing the workforce, Satybaldy Dauletalin emphasized the importance of a strong partnership between employers and trade unions.
“Without creating proper conditions for workers, social partners will never move forward. The current global ‘polycrisis’ stems from major transformational shifts — climate change, rapid technological progress, digitalization, and the advancement of artificial intelligence. As we adapt to these new realities, we must not forget about people — the workers. We must begin today to develop comprehensive measures to protect our human capital. Workers are the most valuable resource of our country. Reskilling employees is primarily the responsibility of employers,” said the FTURK Chairman.
It should be recalled that employees of CHP-2 had previously expressed concern about the potential dismissal of 300 workers following the launch of the gas power plant.
During the meeting with the FTURK Chairman, CHP-2 Director Fazoil Salimov assured that no one would be left without a job.
“When we switch to the gas station, the old coal plant won’t be shut down — it may be put into conservation. Some staff will be retrained to work at the new gas plant. We will send them for training, and an action plan is already in place. By the end of this year, we’ll begin the theoretical training phase,” promised the plant director. He also emphasized that the trade union is a partner: “I consider the union my colleagues. We all work in the same industry and move in the same direction — to improve the living and working conditions of our employees. We have one common goal — to provide warmth and light to people.”
Satybaldy Dauletalin concluded by stating that the Federation of Trade Unions will monitor labor justice.
“For trade unions, the main criterion has always been that all labor relations processes must be fair. The Federation of Trade Unions will ensure public oversight of all ongoing developments, including those at your facility,” he said.
At the end of the visit, distinguished CHP-2 workers were awarded the FTURK “Enbek Ozaty” medals.
Media Center of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan