Our People > Sergey Kwan

Sergey Kwan

Journalist

Sergey Kwan has worked for The Times of Central Asia as a journalist, translator and editor since its foundation in March 1999. Prior to this, from 1996-1997, he worked as a translator at The Kyrgyzstan Chronicle, and from 1997-1999, as a translator at The Central Asian Post. divider Kwan studied at the Bishkek Polytechnic Institute from 1990-1994, before completing his training in print journalism in Denmark.

Articles

Green Future Ecology Aral Sea Tree planting ecosystem

Kazakhstan Continues Afforestation Efforts on the Aral Sea

Kazakhstan is pressing ahead with a large-scale afforestation project aimed at restoring the ecosystem on the dried bed of the Aral Sea. The initiative brings together KATCO - a joint venture between the French state-owned company Orano and Kazakhstan’s national atomic company Kazatomprom - and other state and private entities to create artificial forests, combat land degradation, and improve environmental conditions in the Aral region. The Decline of the Aral Sea Once the world’s fourth-largest inland body of water, the Aral Sea spanned 68,000 square kilometers, straddling Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. However, starting in the 1960s, extensive water diversion from its feeder rivers - the Amu Darya and Syr Darya - for cotton irrigation caused the sea to dry up rapidly. By 2007, the Aral had shrunk to just 10% of its original size. The environmental fallout has been catastrophic. Over 100 million tons of salt, sand, and dust are carried annually by winds from the exposed seabed, damaging nearby ecosystems and posing significant health risks to residents of the surrounding areas. Progress in Afforestation According to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, significant strides have been made in afforestation efforts. Between December 16 and 30, 2024, sowing was completed on 12,000 hectares of the former seabed. Efforts are continuing, with plans to sow seeds across 108,000 hectares in January and February 2025. By March 2025, an additional 16,492 hectares will be planted with saxaul shrubs, a hardy plant well-suited to the region’s arid conditions. The ultimate goal is to plant saxaul shrubs on 1.1 million hectares of the dried-up Aral Seabed. Between 2021 and 2024, afforestation was completed on 475,000 hectares, including 127,000 hectares in 2024 alone. For 2025, Kazakhstan plans to plant saxaul on an ambitious 428,000 hectares. Nationwide Tree-Planting Initiative Kazakhstan’s efforts to restore the Aral Sea ecosystem are part of a broader national afforestation program. The country aims to plant 2 billion trees by 2027. From 2021 to 2024, 1.1 billion seedlings were planted over a total of 736,800 hectares, including 306 million seedlings planted in 2024 on 205,200 hectares. For 2025, the goal is to plant 336.5 million seedlings across 494,000 hectares. Beyond rural afforestation, 15 million trees are planned for urban and village areas, with more than 12 million already planted between 2021 and 2024. A Step Toward Environmental Recovery Kazakhstan’s afforestation efforts represent a critical step toward mitigating the environmental damage caused by the desiccation of the Aral Sea. By stabilizing the exposed seabed with saxaul shrubs and increasing tree cover nationwide, the country aims to reduce airborne pollutants, improve regional biodiversity, and enhance the quality of life for affected communities. The project is not only an environmental undertaking but also a testament to Kazakhstan's commitment to sustainable development and ecological restoration on a massive scale.

8 hours ago

Transport and Logistics Transport Air Transport Infrastructure Development Airports

Kazakhstan Modernizes Civil Aviation Infrastructure to Boost Tourism and Investment

In 2024, Kazakhstan made significant strides in modernizing its air transport infrastructure, opening three new passenger terminals at the airports of Almaty, Shymkent, and Kyzylorda. The upgrades are expected to expand the capacity of these airports, increase the number of air routes, and stimulate growth in passenger traffic. According to the Ministry of Transport, these developments will enhance domestic and international tourism while boosting the investment appeal of Kazakhstan’s regions. The Role of Air Transport As the world’s 9th-largest country, Kazakhstan relies heavily on air transport to complement its extensive railway network. Fast and efficient air travel is crucial for connecting the nation’s vast territories and integrating its economy into global markets. New Terminals and Capacity Expansion Almaty International Airport The new terminal at Almaty International Airport, which opened on June 1, has increased the airport’s capacity from 2.5 million to 14 million passengers annually. Almaty Airport serves as a hub for domestic airlines such as Air Astana, SCAT, Qazaq Air, and Fly Arystan. It operates regular flights to 19 cities across Kazakhstan and offers international connections on 50 routes to 26 countries through 30 foreign airlines. Shymkent Airport In southern Kazakhstan, the new terminal at Shymkent Airport expanded the facility’s capacity from 800,000 to 6 million passengers per year. The airport now offers international flights to 10 destinations, including Jeddah and Medina (Saudi Arabia), Doha (Qatar), Phu Quoc (Vietnam), and Phuket (Thailand). The frequency of flights has also increased to 24 per week. Kyzylorda International Airport The new terminal at Kyzylorda International Airport in south-central Kazakhstan has raised its capacity from 300,000 to 2 million passengers per year. The airport now operates 25 domestic flights, significantly enhancing connectivity for the region. Strategic Projects: Khorgos-Eastern Gate Beyond passenger terminals, a $500 million project to construct a cargo-passenger airport at the Khorgos-Eastern Gate Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is underway. The project, led by the Kazakh-German consortium SKYHANSA, will position Kazakhstan as a critical link on the Western Europe–Western China highway and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), which connects China and Europe. The new airport will include: A passenger terminal capable of handling up to 500 passengers per hour. A cargo terminal with an annual capacity of 250,000 tons. A fuel storage facility with a capacity of 550,000 tons. A technical center for aircraft servicing. Tourism, shopping, and entertainment facilities. This project underscores Kazakhstan’s commitment to expanding its role as a logistics and trade hub in Central Asia. Growth in Air Transportation The air transport sector in Kazakhstan continues to grow at a rate of 10-15% annually. In 2024, Kazakh airlines transported approximately 15 million passengers, while the nation’s airports served 30 million passengers. Cargo transportation also saw significant growth, with 28,000 tons transported in the same period. Kazakhstan’s domestic airlines add 10-15 aircraft to their fleets each year, bringing the total fleet to 102 aircraft as of 2024. Expanding International Connectivity Kazakhstan operates 582 flights per week to 31 countries, including Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, the UAE,...

9 hours ago

Russia Agriculture Bilateral Relations Bilateral Trade Agricultural Export Agricultural Produce

Kazakhstan Aims to Boost Agricultural Exports to Russia

Kazakhstan is seeking to expand its agricultural exports to Russia as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral trade ties. On January 21, Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov met with his Russian counterpart Oksana Lut in Moscow to discuss lifting restrictions on the import and transit of agricultural products. Trade turnover in agricultural goods between the two countries reached $3.4 billion from January to November 2024, marking a 4.3% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. According to Saparov, Russia remains Kazakhstan's largest trading partner in the agricultural sector. Over the first 11 months of 2024, Kazakhstan’s agricultural exports to Russia totaled $502.9 million. “Kazakhstan is interested in increasing the presence of its agricultural products on the Russian market,” Saparov said. In recent months, both countries have made progress in easing trade restrictions. Kazakhstan has lifted all restrictions on Russian agricultural products, while Russia this month removed temporary bans on tomato imports from 36 Kazakh enterprises. Discussions are ongoing to further relax restrictions on the import and transit of Kazakh livestock and plant products. The Moscow meeting concluded with the signing of an action plan to enhance Russian-Kazakh agro-industrial cooperation. Key elements of the plan include: Preparing a joint project to establish an agrobiotechnopark. Creating a favorable framework for mutual food supplies. Finalizing the integration of veterinary and phytosanitary control information systems. These measures are expected to strengthen agricultural trade between the two countries and support the development of new joint projects in the agro-industrial sector.

1 day ago

China Renewable energy Solar Energy Green Energy renewable energy sources Energy Security

Kyrgyzstan Begins Construction of a New Solar Power Plant

Kyrgyzstan has launched the construction of a new solar power plant in the Kemin district of the Chui region, approximately 100 kilometers east of the capital, Bishkek. The plant will have a capacity of 100 MW and is expected to generate 155 million kWh of electricity annually. According to the government, this will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 140,000 tons and coal consumption by 50,000 tons per year. At the January 21 groundbreaking ceremony, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev described the project as a significant step toward achieving Kyrgyzstan’s energy independence and advancing sustainable development. Acknowledging that the country still heavily relies on its Soviet-era hydroelectric power plants for electricity generation, Kasymaliev emphasized Kyrgyzstan’s commitment to adopting modern and environmentally friendly energy solutions. Kasymaliev also highlighted the country’s growing energy demands, noting that Kyrgyzstan’s population now exceeds 7 million and new large-scale industrial enterprises are being established. He expressed optimism that the new solar power plant would help alleviate electricity shortages, which remain a pressing issue, especially during the winter months. The chairman extended his gratitude to Chinese partners and investors, particularly those from Shaanxi Province, for their support and contributions to the project. Kyrgyzstan is actively addressing its energy challenges by investing in a diversified mix of renewable energy initiatives, including solar and wind farms, as well as large hydroelectric power projects.

1 day ago

Parliament Environmental Awareness Ecology Air Pollution

Kyrgyzstan’s Capital Grapples with Smog: Minister Outlines Pollution Sources and Plans for Cleaner Air

On January 20, Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, Meder Mashiev, addressed parliament to discuss the sources of air pollution in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Citing studies conducted by international organizations, Mashiev broke down the contributors to Bishkek’s smog, as reported by 24.kg. According to the minister, the primary sources of air pollution in Bishkek are: Burning of coal: 40% Exhaust gases from motor vehicles: 30% Smoke from the Bishkek Thermal Electric Power Plant: 15% Windborne dust: 13.5% Mashiev highlighted that efforts by the government in 2024 have led to improvements in air quality, based on data from the Hydrometeorological Service. However, he noted that Bishkek experienced its worst smog levels during 2021-2022. One of the key issues contributing to air pollution is the absence of catalytic converters in 85% of vehicles operating in Kyrgyzstan. Catalytic converters are critical for reducing the toxicity of vehicle emissions by converting harmful compounds into less hazardous ones. With over 600,000 registered vehicles in Bishkek — nearly double the city's road capacity of 350,000 — the Ministry estimates that motor transport accounts for 27% of the city's total air pollution. During the parliamentary session, parliamentary deputy Balbak Tulobayev proposed several measures to address the smog problem: Replace domestic coal: Prohibit the use of low-calorie, high-ash Kara-Keche coal in Bishkek and switch to high-calorie Kazakh coal, potentially reducing smog by 30-40%. Accelerate gasification: Attract additional companies, such as those from Azerbaijan or Iran, to expand gasification in Bishkek. Currently, Russia’s Gazprom is the only provider of natural gas in the city. The MP estimates this could reduce smog by another 30%. Improve public transportation: Construct a subway or monorail system in Bishkek to reduce reliance on private vehicles. Ban polluting vehicles: Restrict vehicles without catalytic converters from entering the city. Air pollution remains a persistent issue in Bishkek, a city with over one million residents. The problem worsens in the winter, as household coal burning for heating intensifies. Bishkek frequently ranks among the world’s top 10 most polluted cities on IQAir's global air quality index. To improve air quality, the government has outlined a comprehensive plan for 2024-2025, which includes the following measures: Transition to cleaner coal: Provide households with high-calorie coal that emits fewer pollutants. Modernize the thermal power plant: Replace outdated filters at the Bishkek coal-fired power plant and work toward converting it to natural gas. City planning for air circulation: Develop an architectural plan to enhance air movement in Bishkek. Expand gasification: Continue gasification of residential neighborhoods to reduce reliance on coal. Improve urban infrastructure: Construct transport interchanges and multi-level parking lots to ease traffic congestion. Promote public transport: Increase the attractiveness of public transportation and develop infrastructure for electric vehicles, including charging stations. Green belt initiative: Create a green belt in and around Bishkek to improve air quality and provide natural barriers to pollution. Air pollution in Bishkek is a complex and longstanding issue driven by coal burning, vehicle emissions, and outdated infrastructure. While the government has...

2 days ago