Eni and GE Renewable Energy on Monday began the construction of the Badamsha Wind Farm in northwest Kazakhstan - the Italian oil and gas giant’s first major investment in wind power and GE’s first wind onshore plant in the country, the companies said in a statement.
The landmark 48MW project will significantly increase wind capacity in Kazakhstan, which aims to produce half its energy from renewable sources by 2050, said the statement.
A total 13 GE 3.8-130 onshore wind turbines, with a hub height of 85m, 3.8MW of power and 130meter rotors, will be installed at the Badamsha plant located in the north-west region in the Aktobe oblast, the joint statement said.
Local authorities, Italy's ambassador to Kazakhstan, Pasquale D’Avino, and representatives of Eni and GE Renewable Energy attended a ceremony on Monday as the building of the wind farm got underway following an accord that Eni signed last year with GE and Kazakhstan's energy minister, Kanat Bozumbayev.
Eni has been present in Kazakhstan since 1992. It is joint operator of the Karachaganak field and is an equity partner in various projects in the Northern Caspian Sea, including the giant Kashagan field.
This year, Eni became joint operator Kazakhstan's state-owned oil and gas company company KMG in the Isatay exploration block, the statement noted.
