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Tajikistan to Achieve Energy Independence and Become Green Country

In 2023, Tajikistan’s GDP increased by 8.3% compared to the previous year, and over the past seven years the country’s GDP has grown 1.5-fold while the national economy has developed at an average pace of 7.5%, the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon stated addressing parliament on December 28th. The President said that prioritizing the prevention of potential risks to the national economy, making efficient use of available resources, industrialization and creating jobs have been the main priorities of the government in recent years. Among Tajikistan’s main concerns, the President said, are the establishment of a “green economy,” accelerating the economy’s digitization, developing human resources, raising the competitiveness of domestically produced goods, bolstering exports, and enhancing the standards of social services. Rahmon said that given the abundance of hydropower resources in Tajikistan, the high production capacity of "green energy" and its export, the Government is making confident steps towards achieving its strategic goal of energy independence. In 2023, Tajikistan’s energy capacity exceeded 6,000 megawatts, and electricity production amounted 22 billion kilowatt-hours, which is 4.8 billion kilowatt-hours or 28% more than in 2017. Rahmon said that Tajikistan will take urgent measures over the next seven years to increase energy exports up to 10 billion kilowatt-hours taking into account the implementation of CAЅA-1000 power transmission line project and re-connection to the Central Asia energy system. The country will also construct power plants using renewable energy sources and increase the "green energy" production capacity up to 1,000 megawatts by 2030. With the implementation of these measures, the President said, by 2032 electricity production in the country will be entirely from renewable sources, that is, 100% will be provided by “green energy, and Tajikistan will truly become a green country,” President Rahmon said.

Uzbekistan Environment Environment Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Business & Economy Uzbekistan Life & Culture Features

Uzbekistan to Cover Growing Demand with Green Energy Sources

Uzbekistan has set a goal of doubling its industrial production by 2030 and plans to implement more than 500 major industrial and infrastructure projects worth $150 billion. To accomplish these ambitious goals, the country needs to have guaranteed and stable energy resources, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said on December 27th, at the launch ceremony of major projects in the field of green energy. “We estimate that in the next six years, our country's electricity demand will increase from the current 83 billion to 120 billion kilowatt hours. We will cover this primarily through renewable energy sources,” Mirziyoyev said. Uzbekistan will continue its active investment policy to increase the capacity of green energy sources to 27 gigawatts by 2030, he said, adding that the country possesses enormous potential for green energy. “In order to encourage the industry, we have launched the ‘Solar House’ system to provide preferential loans and subsidies for the installation of solar panels and ensure the guaranteed purchase of generated electricity. This year alone, 50,000 households and entrepreneurs have installed solar panels in our country,” Mirziyoyev said. Currently, Uzbekistan is implementing projects for the construction of 22 solar and wind power stations with a total capacity of 9 gigawatts, and the government will create all the necessary conditions and preferences for foreign investors to implement such priority projects, Mirziyoyev concluded.

Environment Kazakhstan Environment Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Opinions

Can Kazakhstan set an example for Central Asia’s key position in the global transition to green economy?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css="" woodmart_inline="no" text_larger="no"]If there is one Central Asian country that stood out during the COP 28 summit on climate change in Dubai in late 2023, it was Kazakhstan. Its pledges and initiatives – specifically regarding methane reductions, transition to renewable energy sources, and water security and cooperation – correspond overall to the country’s commitments to a green economy transition. More importantly, such signaling and posturing may have larger repercussions in a region of increasing geopolitical and economic importance, not the least because of its vast resources and potential in terms of growing transportation networks. *** First to consider is Kazakhstan’s announcement of a Methane Reduction Pledge which makes it part of a voluntary agreement known as the Global Methane Pledge to reduce methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030. This is significant given that Kazakhstan is Central Asia's main oil producer as well as an important gas producer. Stressing the country’s dedication to reducing greenhouse emissions, and in alignment with international efforts to decrease non-CO2 climate super-pollutants, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym Jomart Tokayev acknowledged during his speech at COP28 that cutting methane emissions was the “quickest avenue to immediately slow the rate of global warming". This move earned him praise from the U.S. and the UK. President Joe Biden’s Special Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, issued a joint statement with Zulfiya Suleimenova, Tokayev’s Special Representative on International Environmental Cooperation, underlining the two countries’ “mutual readiness to accelerate the development and implementation of policies and projects to rapidly reduce methane emissions” over the next two years, particularly from the fossil energy industry. The U.S. also said it would work with partners “to mobilize investments to support achieving full methane mitigation potential in Kazakhstan’s oil and gas sector”, which it said will require “at least $1.4 billion in total spending through 2030.” Likewise, British Embassy in Astana posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), to give “Congratulations to President Tokayev and Kazakhstan for joining the Global Methane reduction Commitment at #COP28 in Dubai!”, adding that this was a “significant step towards a sustainable future.” Secondly, President Tokayev unveiled at COP28 an ambitious Joint Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) initiative for Kazakhstan, which will help make the country a key player in the global transition to renewable energy sources. This should be exciting news for people of Kazakhstan as their country is poised to be a major global supplier of critical minerals used in green technologies as the world decarbonises in the coming decades. A generally agreed list of these critical minerals often include lithium, cobalt and nickel (all used in the production of electric batteries), as well as rare earths (which include at least 17 elements such as neodymium, dysprosium and terbium that are necessary for magnets in wind turbines and electric vehicles), and silver (a key component for solar panel manufacturing). Kazakhstan holds the largest chrome ore reserves in the world and ranks first also in terms of their quality. It holds second place globally for uranium and silver reserves, and...

Environment Kazakhstan Environment Kazakhstan

Leonardo DiCaprio Congratulates Government of Kazakhstan

One of the most sought-after Hollywood actors, Leonardo DiCaprio, has appealed to the government of Kazakhstan on his personal Instagram page. On December 25th, the Oscar-winner congratulated the Kazakhstan authorities on the increase in the population of the endangered saigas. "Congratulations to the Government of Kazakhstan, which has invested heavily in anti-poaching initiatives, powerful law enforcement agencies and the creation of new protected areas. Their cooperation with environmental organizations, universities and scientists is a vivid example of real success in the field of nature conservation based on joint efforts," wrote DiCaprio, noting that saigas had moved categories from "on the verge of extinction" to "in a state close to threatened" on the international Red List. "This unprecedented recovery reflects the remarkable preservation of saiga in Kazakhstan. The species, which once numbered 48,000 in 2005, has now grown to more than 1.9 million in the wild," the actor noted. DiCaprio contributes considerably to climate change and pollution issues, supporting more than 200 projects focused on protecting wildlife and restoring the balance of ecosystems and communities. On December 12th, the International Union for Conservation of Nature reported that saigas no longer belong to the species of animals on the verge of extinction.

Environment Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Business & Economy Business & Economy Uzbekistan Life & Culture

Natural Gas Production in Uzbekistan Down by 4.5 Billion Cubic Meters in 2023

According to Uzbekistan’s Statistics Agency, over the eleven months of 2023 to December, Uzbekistan reduced natural gas production by more than 4.5 billion cubic meters compared to the same period last year. From January-November, 42.7 billion cubic meters of gas was produced, compared to 47.3 billion cubic meters in 2022. Official statistics also recorded a decrease in the country’s oil production by 12,000 tons from January-November. In recent years, Uzbekistan’s natural gas industry has experienced problems due to the depletion of reserves at existing fields. This year, Uzbekistan started importing natural gas from Russia through Kazakhstan. A government meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev earlier this month focused on maintaining natural gas production volumes at existing fields and discovering new reserves. The meeting considered ways of transitioning to geological drilling at a depth of 6-7 kilometers using advanced technologies. It was stated at the meeting that in recent years, the depth of geological exploration has been increased from 2-3 kilometers to 4-5 kilometers. In 2024, it is planned to carry out seismic work on an area of 3.5 thousand square kilometers and drill new exploration wells.

Environment Kyrgyzstan Environment Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan to Create a Ministry of Water Management

Kyrgyzstan's Agriculture Minister, Askarbek Janybekov, addressed journalists at a press conference, indicating plans to potentially establish a Ministry of Water Management in the country by the conclusion of 2024. "Now, there is a need to create a separate department for water issues. We must take our time. It will be a big organization. Therefore, we will consider it in stages, and we think at the end of next year we will create such a ministry," he said. Janybekov highlighted that discussions on this matter had surfaced in the Jogorku Kenesh and the recent National Kurultai. Previously, MP Emil Toktoshev had advocated for such an initiative.