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.
They mine, work ore, and then produce lead, zinc, copper, cadmium, other rare metals and sulfuric acid. Mechanical engineering, which is connected with non-ferrous metallurgy, produces mining equipment, condensers and apparatuses for electric power station in the main. They fuse titanium and magnesium from imported raw materials. They mine much bituminous coal. There are many lakes here.