Thousands of people have been left without heating in the north of Kazakhstan with temperatures plunging. Images broadcast in Kazakhstan in recent days showed long icicles forming inside apartments, while residents burnt anything they could find to keep warm. Khairushev said that more than 1,000 emergency shutdowns had occurred at thermal power plants since the start of the year. Twenty-two of Kazakhstan's 37 thermal power stations are in private hands, and Tokayev has said he is considering the nationalisation of a number of assets. Many have laid the blame for the most recent accident on tycoon Alexander Klebanov, the owner of the Ekibastuz power station.
