Thick Black Smoke as Firefighters Battle Major Blaze at Auto Service Station in Kostanay

17.08.2026, 13:05 3006

Kyrgyz Energy Ministry Responds to KEGOC Statement on Cause of Blackout

Kyrgyzstan’s Energy Ministry said the shutdown of two generating units at the Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Plant on Aug. 14 was the initial disturbance in Central Asia’s power grid but that it would be incorrect to consider it the direct cause of subsequent outages in other countries.

The ministry said the technical failure occurred at 3:37 p.m. on Aug. 14. The Kyrgyz power grid then disconnected from the Central Asian Unified Power System and began operating independently.

Power engineers stabilized the system and restored the frequency in the Central Asian grid to the normal level of 50 hertz by 3:55 p.m. Kyrgyzstan also provided about 250 megawatts of power to neighboring countries, according to the ministry.

The Kyrgyz Energy Ministry stressed that the Almaty power hub went offline only after the frequency in the Central Asian grid had returned to its nominal level.

An investigation found that two generating units at the Toktogul plant had briefly shut down. The ministry acknowledged that this was the initial disturbance in Central Asia’s interconnected power grid and caused changes in power flows and the activation of emergency protection systems.

However, Kyrgyzstan said it was wrong to directly link the failure to all subsequent outages.

"This initial disturbance should not be equated with the direct cause of outages in individual power systems and power hubs in other countries," the Kyrgyz Energy Ministry said.

The ministry explained that in such situations, power systems should continue operating steadily in isolation, including at a reduced frequency, until the balance is restored.

"Until the joint technical investigation is completed, it is incorrect to hold the Kyrgyz power system responsible for all subsequent consequences of the incident," the ministry said.

A special commission will determine the cause of the technical failure.

Kazakhstan’s power grid operator KEGOC previously said the shutdown of two generating units at the Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Plant in Kyrgyzstan overloaded the North-East-South power transmission corridor and caused the southern zone to disconnect from Kazakhstan’s unified power system and the Central Asian power grids.

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17.08.2026, 11:58 3326

Steppe Fires Break Out Across Four Districts of Kazakhstan’s Karaganda Region

Images | gov.kz

Steppe fires have been reported in the Shet, Aktogay, Bukhar-Zhyrau and Karkaraly districts of Kazakhstan’s Karaganda region. A total of 620 personnel and 134 vehicles and pieces of equipment have been deployed to fight the fires and protect nearby communities, according to the regional administration.

Strong winds are complicating firefighting efforts. In the Karkaraly district, two men, born in 1989 and 1970, suffered burns. One sustained burns to 10% of his body and the other to 20%. Both are being treated in hospital and are in stable condition.

An aerial survey was carried out near the village of Zhanatogan. No new fire hotspots were detected and there is currently no threat to the village. Two teams comprising 159 personnel and 52 vehicles and pieces of equipment are working at the scene.

Three fires near winter livestock settlements in the vicinity of Besoba village have also been extinguished.

Wildfires in the Aktogay and Shet districts have already been extinguished. The situation in both districts is stable and under control.

Karaganda Region Governor Yermaganbet Bulekpayev instructed officials to maintain constant monitoring of the situation.

"The risk of steppe fires remains high due to hot weather and strong winds. The situation must be monitored continuously, and local authorities must work closely with the regional emergency services," Bulekpayev said.

An emergency response centre is operating at the Karaganda regional Department of Emergency Situations to coordinate firefighting efforts.

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12.08.2026, 12:35 13931

Tremors From Magnitude 5.1 Earthquake Felt in Almaty

Earthquake tremors were recorded in Almaty on the afternoon of Aug. 12, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations said.

Residents also reported on social media that they had felt the tremors.

The ministry later said the tremors, measuring 2 points on the local intensity scale, were recorded at 12:14 p.m. Astana time.

No casualties or damage have been reported.

According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the epicenter of the magnitude 5.1 earthquake was located in Kyrgyzstan.

Earlier, a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia on Aug. 10, killing more than 130 people and damaging hundreds of buildings.

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30.07.2026, 17:05 48586

Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry Comments on Attack on TCO Oil Tanker

Images | admnvrsk.ru

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy has commented on the attack on the tanker Nissos Sifnos, carrying oil from Tengizchevroil LLP (TCO), near the terminal of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), a correspondent reports.

"The tanker Nissos Sifnos came under a drone attack in the cargo manifold area while completing loading at Single Point Mooring No. 3 (SPM-3). Due to the threat posed by the UAV attack, oil loading from the CPC terminal had been suspended in advance," the ministry said.

The ministry also reported that the tanker Marathi, which had been scheduled for loading, was likewise targeted in a drone attack approximately 6-7 nautical miles from the CPC marine terminal.

"According to the available information, there were no casualties among the crew members, and no oil spill occurred. The fire caused by the attack was extinguished with the assistance of three CPC tugboats," the ministry added.

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30.07.2026, 11:50 48586

Tanker Carrying TCO Oil Attacked Near CPC Marine Terminal

Images | Depositphotos

A tanker carrying oil from Tengizchevroil LLP (TCO) came under a drone attack while loading at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) marine terminal during the night of July 30, the consortium said.

According to the CPC, the Nissos Sifnos, sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands, was loading crude oil at Single Point Mooring No. 3 (SPM-3) when it was targeted by unmanned aerial vehicles.

The incident occurred at 1:48 a.m. Moscow time. The tanker was transporting crude oil shipped by Tengizchevroil LLP (Chevron).

"As a result of the drone attack, a fire broke out in the area of the oil-loading manifolds on the cargo deck. The fire was extinguished by the tanker's crew with the assistance of three CPC support vessels," the consortium said in a statement.

The CPC said there were no fatalities or injuries among its employees or contractors, and no oil spill occurred. Medical assistance or evacuation of the crew was not required. The vessel remained afloat, and specialists are currently assessing the extent of the damage.

Oil loading operations have been temporarily suspended, although the consortium said the pipeline's facilities continue to operate as normal.

The consortium also reported that the tanker Marathi, sailing under the flag of the Isle of Man and en route to the terminal to load oil, was attacked approximately six nautical miles from the CPC marine terminal in territorial waters.

According to the CPC, such attacks pose risks to global energy security, undermine the stability of international energy supplies, and damage the economic interests of Kazakhstan, the consortium's Western shareholders, and oil-shipping companies, including Chevron, ExxonMobil, Eni, TotalEnergies, and Shell.

The consortium also stressed that attacks on tankers endanger the lives of international crews and increase the risk of a major environmental disaster in the Black Sea. According to the CPC, a direct strike on the loading equipment could have resulted in the entire vessel catching fire and caused a large-scale oil spill.

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29.07.2026, 14:54 51846

Kazakh Foreign Ministry Comments on Fatal Altai Road Accident

Images | AI

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commented on a road accident involving Kazakh citizens in the Ulagansky District of Russia's Altai Republic, in which two Kazakh nationals were killed and another was injured and hospitalized, the agency's correspondent reports.

"It is with deep sorrow that we report that two citizens of Kazakhstan died at the scene as a result of their injuries. Another compatriot sustained injuries of varying severity and was urgently admitted to the Republican Clinical Hospital in Gorno-Altaysk," the ministry said in a statement.

The Foreign Ministry said Kazakh diplomats had promptly established contact with local authorities, the medical institution and the victims' relatives.

"The necessary consular and legal assistance is being provided, and support is also being offered in arranging the repatriation of the victims' bodies to Kazakhstan. This matter remains under the ministry's close supervision," the ministry said.

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20.07.2026, 13:30 74371

Civilian Tanker Attacked Again at CPC Marine Terminal

Images | Depositphotos

A civilian oil tanker came under attack once again at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) marine terminal on July 20, forcing the suspension of oil loading operations, the consortium's press service said.

"A terrorist attack involving an unmanned aerial vehicle targeted the tanker NELSA, which was loading crude oil at Single Point Mooring No. 1 (SPM-1). The drone struck the starboard side of the vessel's stern, between the superstructure and the engine and boiler room, causing a fire on the deck and in several compartments," the consortium said in a statement.

According to the CPC, the fire was extinguished by the tanker's loading crew together with the consortium's emergency response teams operating from support vessels.

The multinational crew of 22 was evacuated aboard CPC tugboats, with the exception of the captain and the chief officer, who remained on board. The tanker remained afloat. Oil loading has been suspended, while no oil spill or ignition of crude in the cargo tanks occurred, the consortium said.

On July 17 and 19, civilian oil tankers were also attacked while loading crude at the CPC marine terminal handling shipments from Kazakhstan and the United States. Following the July 19 incident, oil loading operations at the terminal were suspended before resuming on Sunday evening.

The attacks were strongly condemned by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Energy, which said such actions undermine the country's economic interests and pose a threat to international energy security.

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16.07.2026, 13:18 85596

More Than 200 People Evacuated as Wildfire Burns in Semey Ormany Nature Reserve

Images | gov.kz

A wildfire is being fought in the Semey Ormany State Forest Nature Reserve in the Borodulikha District of Kazakhstan's Abai Region. A total of 210 people were evacuated from a children's camp located near the fire, the regional police department's press service said.

Police officers evacuated 190 children and 20 staff members from the DosbolLike children's camp as the wildfire approached the area, the department said.

According to the Borodulikha District administration, the fire broke out at 9:45 a.m. on 16 July in Compartment 57 of the Kamyshenskoye Forestry Unit, part of the Borodulikha branch of the Semey Ormany State Forest Nature Reserve.

Emergency crews deployed two fire engines, two tractors, one mobile forest firefighting unit, as well as 30 emergency responders and eight vehicles from the Ministry of Emergency Situations. In addition, 11 state forest protection officers are involved in the firefighting operation.

Local authorities said weather conditions remain challenging. Air temperatures have reached 34°C, while northwesterly winds are blowing at 4 metres per second, with gusts of up to 8 metres per second. The area is currently under the highest (Level 5) wildfire danger classification.

Local officials stressed that the situation remains under control.

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Thick Black Smoke as Firefighters Battle Major Blaze at Auto Service Station in Kostanay

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