No Grid, No Problem: A New Kazakh Gold Mine Builds Its Own Power Plant With Cat Gas Gensets

West Gold Mining chose onsite gas generation over a long grid extension for its site in the Aktobe region

The new gold mine West Gold Mining Limited is building in Kazakhstan’s Aktobe region sits almost 300 km from the nearest city, with no electrical infrastructure. Bringing the grid to the site was considered, but distance and cost made it impractical. Instead, the mine will make its own electricity.

West Gold Mining and Cat dealer Borusan Cat have selected two Cat G3500K series gas generator sets, configured to run in prime power mode and provide continuous off-grid power from day one.

Island mode from the start

A feasibility study showed that a self-sufficient gas power plant could reduce the mine’s dependence on external infrastructure while covering its immediate needs and leaving room to grow. The G3500K system runs in island mode, fully independent of the grid, and is designed to scale as production increases.

“We needed a power solution that could operate independently off the grid while supporting our long-term plans,” said Beken Erik, chief executive officer of West Gold Mining. “The Cat solution, along with the local support provided, gave us confidence in both performance and future scalability.”

Built for the steppe climate

The Aktobe region swings from around -30°C in winter to more than 30°C in summer. To cope, the gensets were specified in Cat’s containerised enclosure configuration, which protects the equipment and simplifies installation on a greenfield site.

As construction continues, the power system is expected to play a central role in bringing the mine into production and supporting future expansion.

Support as part of the decision

For remote operations, the machine is only half of the purchase. West Gold Mining put local service, parts availability and on-the-ground support high on its list, and Borusan Cat’s technical team was part of the case. A Customer Value Agreement for maintenance support is planned once installation and commissioning are complete.

“This project demonstrates how we help customers solve practical energy challenges by delivering reliable, scalable power systems backed by local expertise, service and long-term support,” said Melissa Busen, senior vice president of Cat Electric Power.

For mining companies developing deposits far from existing networks, the project is a reminder that power strategy can shape a project’s timeline as much as the mining fleet does.

No Grid, No Problem: A New Kazakh Gold Mine Builds Its Own Power Plant With Cat Gas Gensets published on The HeavyQuip Magazine.