Kazakhstan’s landmark green hydrogen project, Hyrasia One, has come under scrutiny from environmental experts and public officials who are urging a relocation of key infrastructure to prevent ecological damage in the Mangystau region. The recommendation, issued by the Public Council under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, highlights growing concerns about the project’s impact on biodiversity and endangered species.

Developed by Swedish-German energy firm Svevind Energy Group, Hyrasia One is envisioned as Kazakhstan’s largest green hydrogen facility, with a targeted annual output of two million tonnes by 2030. The €50 billion ($55 billion) project aims to leverage the country’s solar and wind resources to establish Kazakhstan as a leading exporter of clean energy to the European Union and beyond.

However, the proposed location of the “Rahim” and “Kanagat” renewable energy clusters—central to the hydrogen facility—has triggered alarm among conservationists. According to the Council, the clusters intersect with sensitive ecosystems that serve as habitats and migration corridors for the endangered goitered gazelle, listed in Kazakhstan’s Red Book of protected species.

In its official protocol, the Council recommended relocating these energy installations to previously industrialized areas, such as decommissioned oil and gas fields, which already have access to basic infrastructure like roads, power lines, and communication networks. “This would not only reduce environmental damage but could also prove more practical and cost-effective for the developers,” the Council stated.

The current project design is said to pose risks to multiple protected areas across Central Asia, including the Ustyurt Nature Reserve and its proposed “Southern Ustyurt” extension in Kazakhstan, the South Ustyurt National Park in Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan’s Gaplangyr Reserve. These regions collectively support a range of fragile ecosystems and transboundary conservation efforts.

Legal and procedural concerns have also been raised. The Council alleges that certain land allocations were approved without due process, and that public consultations during the environmental impact assessment (EIA) phase were either inadequate or poorly documented. Representatives from Hyrasia One have reportedly declined invitations to attend two dedicated council sessions addressing these issues.

The Council has forwarded its findings and formal relocation proposal to the Presidential Administration, the Government of Kazakhstan, and regional authorities in Mangystau.

Despite the controversy, Hyrasia One remains a strategic component of Kazakhstan’s clean energy roadmap. With potential backing from both the European Union and China, the project carries geopolitical and economic significance—but now faces mounting pressure to reconcile environmental sustainability with energy ambition.

Source :

https://timesca.com/environmentalists-urge-relocation-of-hyrasia-one-green-hydrogen-project/