The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is stepping up its support for industrial infrastructure in Kazakhstan and Central Asia with a new investment targeting the region’s renewable energy and logistics sectors.
The institution has announced a loan of up to EUR 25 million (in KZT equivalent) to Sarens Kazakhstan, a subsidiary of the Belgium-based Sarens Group, a provider of heavy lifting and engineered transport services.
Expanding Heavy-Lifting and Engineering Capabilities
The EBRD funding will help Sarens Kazakhstan expand its integrated engineering operations for heavy lifting, specialised transportation, and installation projects.
The loan will be used to acquire new high-capacity cranes, specialised trailers, and other vehicles, as well as to finance the company’s working capital needs.
This expansion aims to enhance the firm’s capacity to manage large-scale renewable energy and logistics projects across Kazakhstan and the broader Central Asian region, thereby strengthening the industrial foundation necessary for ongoing energy transition and infrastructure modernisation efforts.
Enabling Renewable Energy Growth
According to EBRD estimates, the new equipment financed under this investment will enable the installation of at least 11.75 GW of additional wind capacity across the region.
The enhanced logistical capabilities will directly support Kazakhstan’s national target of achieving a 15 percent renewable energy share by 2030, in line with the country’s long-term decarbonization and green growth strategy.
Strengthening the Trans-Caspian Corridor
Beyond the renewable energy sector, the project is also set to enhance logistics infrastructure along the Trans-Caspian Corridor – a critical trade route linking Europe and Central Asia.
Improving transport efficiency and reducing infrastructure bottlenecks along this corridor is central to promoting sustainable trade connectivity between the two regions.
The loan’s long-term maturity, which surpasses what is available from domestic commercial banks, underscores the EBRD’s role in mobilizing financing for sustainable infrastructure projects that might otherwise remain underfunded.
EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso, said, “Together with the EU we are supporting this project because it meets our strategic objectives for Kazakhstan and Central Asia. It is also part of the global transport and logistics infrastructure solutions covered by the EU Global Gateway initiative. Our funds will help to address a key infrastructure bottleneck along the Transcaspian Corridor.”
Toward a Regional Logistics Hub
The investment also ties into Kazakhstan’s ambitious logistics vision, including the ongoing development of Aktau Port on the Caspian Sea. By the end of 2026, Aktau aims to host the largest container terminal in the Caspian region, capable of processing up to 240,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually.
EBRD’s Continued Commitment in Kazakhstan
The EBRD remains a leading institutional investor in Kazakhstan, having invested nearly EUR 10.3 billion across 342 projects to date. The majority of these investments have supported private-sector development, contributing to the country’s transition toward a diversified and sustainable economy.
