Kazakhs and Russians prevail here. Also Ukrainians, Germans, Koreans and people of other nationalities inhabit this part of the republic. The Eastern Kazakhstan is an important region of mining and smelting industry and production of the cheap hydroelectric power in our republic. The Rudny Altai ranks high history of development of the Eastern Kazakhstan's economy. This part of Altai's mountains in Kazakhstan got such name because od its ore mineral wealth.
Heavy industry plays the leading part in economy of the modern Eastern Kazakhstan.
Our region has a good power base. There are some hydroelectric power stations on the Irtysh and its right flows that generate cheap electricity. The most powerful of them are Bukhtarminsky, Shulbinsky and Ust-Kamenogorsk hydroelectric power stations. Besides some thermoelectric power stations work here, they are connected with high-voltage lines and together with hydroelectric power stations from a powerful Altai power system. Polymetallic industry is the chief user of much energy in our region.