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Green Energy

Astana Forum Signals Growing Momentum for Green Projects

Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a regional hub for green energy, with hydrogen emerging as a central focus. This direction was highlighted at the Second Central Asian and European Forum on Decarbonization Diplomacy, where hydrogen featured prominently on the agenda. At the forum, the Ministry of Energy presented an updated Concept for Hydrogen Energy Development aimed at attracting investment and laying the groundwork for the country’s first large-scale hydrogen projects. “By the end of this year, we expect to adopt legislation that will provide the foundation for hydrogen energy development in Kazakhstan. For us, this is not merely a goal, it is a strategic choice, just like green energy more broadly. Forums like this one help transform ideas into tangible partnerships,” said Deputy Energy Minister Ilyas Bakytzhan. The central question raised at the forum was how to convert growing interest into actual investment. Institutions including the World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Asian Development Bank (ADB), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) expressed willingness to consider pilot projects in Kazakhstan. However, experts warned that financial commitments will depend on the establishment of long-term hydrogen supply contracts and a transparent certification framework. [caption id="attachment_36294" align="alignnone" width="300"] Deputy Energy Minister Bakytzhan Ilyas, @gov.kz[/caption] While viable business models are still evolving, Kazakhstan has the potential to become a key hydrogen supplier to Europe and Asia. In the early stages, however, building domestic demand, in sectors such as metallurgy, transportation, and energy, will be critical. A balanced strategy that prioritizes both export orientation and local industrialization is seen as essential for long-term project sustainability. Forum participants identified several key challenges: High capital requirements and extended payback periods Integration with renewable energy infrastructure Exposure to volatile global pricing and certification standards The need for green financing tools and risk insurance mechanisms A significant development at the forum was the signing of a cooperation agreement between Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy and the Hydrogen Diplomacy Office (H2-Diplo GIZ). The agreement provides access to European technical expertise and advisory support, including the design of financing structures. Experts agree that the next few years will be decisive. Kazakhstan must show that it can provide a stable and predictable investment climate. The Astana forum made clear that international institutions and private investors are already showing interest. The determining factor now will be the quality and credibility of the regulatory framework the country establishes.

Desertification

Opinion: Turning Deserts Into Fields of Hope

Desertification is a global crisis threatening the livelihoods of 3.2 billion people worldwide. From China’s vast green belt along its largest desert to Central Asia’s unified efforts to halt land degradation on arid plains, the fight against encroaching sand continues. These initiatives offer hopeful examples of human endeavor in restoring degraded lands and safeguarding the future of our planet. In the heart of southern Xinjiang lies the Taklamakan Desert, a vast expanse known as the “sea of death” for its extreme arid and inhospitable conditions. Covering 330,000 square kilometers - an area almost the size of Finland - it is China’s largest desert and the world’s second-largest shifting desert. Here, dunes stretch endlessly, and sandstorm days comprise one-third of the year. For generations, the Taklamakan Desert has threatened surrounding villages, farmlands, and transportation routes, squeezing the living space of those who dwell on its edges. Nearly 80% of the desert sands are in constant motion, while seasonal floods from melting snow on the mountains add further instability, leaving homes and livelihoods at risk. The danger is long-term: at one point, the Taklamakan risked merging with the nearby Kumtag Desert, placing even greater pressure on human settlements. How To Contain The Sands Faced with the challenge, China launched an ambitious initiative: building a shield of vegetation to encircle the Taklamakan Desert, planting desert-tolerant species such as desert poplar, red willow, saxaul, and even roses. This massive project took more than 40 years to complete. By the end of 2023, 2,761 kilometers (about 1,716 miles) of the belt had been established. A year later, the final 285 kilometers - the most challenging section - was closed through the dedicated efforts of 600,000 people. On November 28, 2024, in Yutian County on the desert’s southern edge, the last seedlings were planted into the sands, completing a 3,046-kilometer green belt. This vast ecological barrier stabilizes the Taklamakan Desert’s edge, prevents sandstorms, and protects the fragile ecology. In addition, the green belt provides wild animals in the desert with safe conditions for survival, breeding, and migration. A Bold Green Strategy Against Desertification The Taklamakan Desert control project is a part of China's Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, or TSFP, the world's largest afforestation program aimed at curbing desertification. Launched in 1978, this ambitious program seeks to slow the progress of desertification and reduce the frequency of sandstorms by planting vast stretches of trees and resilient plant species across the arid and semi-arid regions in northern China, where sandstorms pose a constant threat to local farmlands and residents. Official data shows that forest coverage in areas covered by the TSFP has risen from 5% in 1977 to 13.8% today. More than 60% of regions prone to soil erosion have been effectively controlled, and roughly 30 million hectares of farmland have been safeguarded from desert expansion. Turning Lands of Despair into Fields of Hope: A Shared Mission The challenges faced in northern China echo across the globe. From the Sahel in Africa to the Middle East and Central...

Kambarata-1

Experts Call for Seismic Study Ahead of Kambarata-1 Hydropower Construction

At a recent parliamentary session, Kanatbek Abdrakhmatov, director of the Institute of Seismology and president of Kyrgyzstan’s National Academy of Sciences, warned that seismic microzonation has not been conducted at the site of the planned Kambarata-1 hydropower plant (HPP), a critical prerequisite for infrastructure projects of this magnitude. Located in western Kyrgyzstan, the Kambarata-1 HPP is a joint venture between Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, with financial support from the World Bank. The facility is expected to have a capacity of 1,860 MW, with a reservoir volume of 4.5 billion cubic meters. The dam is projected to stand 256 meters tall and house four turbines capable of generating over 5.5 billion kWh annually. The total estimated cost of the project is $5-6 billion. The statement has raised alarms over the country’s most ambitious hydroelectric initiative since independence. Abdrakhmatov said scientists had twice appealed to the Ministry of Energy requesting the study, but received no response. He cautioned that the ministry is underestimating the potential seismic risks. “We are about to launch the Kambarata-1 project. It is crucial to understand that seismic microzonation must be carried out before projects of this magnitude begin. Unfortunately, this has not been done,” Abdrakhmatov said. “This raises serious concerns, because if an earthquake occurs, the dam could collapse, which in turn could destroy Kambarata-2 and other hydropower plants downstream on the Naryn River.” He further noted that the dam is planned between two mountain ridges, one significantly higher than the other. Since seismic waves interact differently with varying topographies, a powerful earthquake could cause destabilization and structural damage. Conducting a microzonation study would help mitigate such risks. The Ministry of Energy has dismissed the concerns raised by domestic seismologists, maintaining that the design of the curved gravity dam is safe. According to the ministry, AFRY Switzerland Ltd, the company preparing the project’s feasibility study, engaged international experts to assess the seismic profile of the region. The ministry stated that the expert team conducted an analysis of seismic sources, earthquake history, and regional tectonics using data from the National Institute of Seismology and the Central Asian earthquake catalog. Based on their findings, a curved gravity dam design was proposed to enhance both hydraulic performance and structural resilience. “Following comprehensive studies and numerous expert-level discussions, a seismic hazard assessment of the construction area was provided. The curved gravity dam design proposed for Kambarata-1 is expected to improve both efficiency and resilience,” the ministry reported. Nevertheless, the ministry added that it remains open to further in-depth seismic studies and may still conduct a microzonation survey as recommended by local scientists. “To date, enormous preparatory work has been carried out for Kambarata-1. We are moving toward the start of major construction. However, speculation by some of our seismology experts, who are unfamiliar with the latest reports, is deeply regrettable, it is nothing but slander and sabotage,” the ministry added in a strongly worded statement.

Agriculture

East Kazakhstan Researchers Use AI and Drones to Boost Soil and Crop Management

Researchers at Sarsen Amanzholov University in Ust-Kamenogorsk, East Kazakhstan, have developed a digital system that integrates drone imagery with artificial intelligence (AI) to assess soil quality and crop health with high precision. The system enables farmers to monitor soil and plant conditions in ways previously inaccessible. Drones equipped with multispectral cameras capture images across five spectral bands: red, blue, green, near-infrared, and mid-infrared. “This approach makes it possible to ‘see’ what is invisible to the human eye, soil moisture levels, chlorophyll content, early signs of plant disease, or land degradation,” said Almasbek Maulit, a researcher at Sarsen Amanzholov University. “AI algorithms analyze the images, differentiate between crops and weeds, identify patterns of spread, and even generate automatic maps of infected areas. This enables farmers to take targeted action from local treatment of problem zones to adjusting crop rotation or cultivation methods.” The system offers several key benefits: Optimized use of fertilizers and plant protection products, reducing costs Early detection of problems, minimizing crop losses Improved profitability through better sowing and crop management strategies Reliable land quality assessments for investors and state authorities The project is part of Kazakhstan’s broader strategy to integrate high-tech solutions into agriculture, a sector that remains a cornerstone of the national economy. Earlier this year, The Times of Central Asia reported that engineers in Karaganda unveiled prototypes of drones designed for public safety applications. By merging AI with drone-based imaging, scientists in East Kazakhstan are helping to position the country’s agribusiness sector for smarter, more sustainable practices and long-term growth.

China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway

Opinion: A Railway to the Future – Uzbekistan’s Bold Path to Connectivity and Carbon Cuts

I still remember the thrill of boarding the sleek high-speed train from Tashkent to Bukhara. What could have been an ordinary journey turned into something unforgettable - the kind of experience that stays alive in the memory long after the trip ends. The speed, the comfort, and above all, the hospitality of Uzbekistan Railways revealed more than just modern engineering; it was a glimpse into the vision of a country determined to connect its people and its future to the wider world. The resonance of this project is deep. The Silk Road was once the artery of global exchange, moving not just goods but ideas, cultures, and entire civilizations between East and West. From Xi’an to Samarkand, Bukhara, and Tashkent, caravans carried silk, porcelain, and paper eastward, while wool, stones, fruits, and glassware travelled west. The CKU Railway is not simply another infrastructure project; it is the revival of this legacy, adapted for the 21st century. By shortening transport routes by nearly 900 kilometers and halving transit times, it promises to transform Uzbekistan’s geographic disadvantage into a strategic strength. For a landlocked country, this is more than steel on tracks - it is a lifeline to global markets. That is where railways carry an underappreciated advantage. Beyond the economics, rail is also a climate solution. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has found that rail freight is three to four times more energy-efficient than trucks. Trains use 65–80% less fuel per kilogram of cargo. The European Environment Agency calculates that a ton of freight moved by train emits 14–20 grams of CO₂ per kilometer, while the same tonnage on trucks produces 60–120 grams. That is a four- to fivefold difference. If the 20th century belonged to highways, the 21st must belong to railways. To grasp what this means for Central Asia, consider the region’s emissions profile. According to the EDGAR 2023 dataset, annual greenhouse gas emissions (excluding LULUCF, 2022) stand at roughly 320 MtCO₂e for Kazakhstan, 214 MtCO₂e for Uzbekistan, 99 MtCO₂e for Turkmenistan, 22 MtCO₂e for Kyrgyzstan, and 21 MtCO₂e for Tajikistan. Transport is responsible for around a tenth of that, and road freight dominates. The opportunity for reductions through a modal shift is therefore enormous. Take Uzbekistan as a case in point. The country moves about 90 billion ton-km of freight annually, within a regional total of some 350 billion. At present, 70% of this moves by road and 30% by rail. Imagine that by 2035, half of current road freight shifts to electrified rail - around 32 billion ton-km. On trucks, that freight would generate 2.9 MtCO₂e per year. On electrified trains, it would produce only 0.54 MtCO₂e. The savings: 2.4 MtCO₂e annually, or more than 1% of Uzbekistan’s entire national emissions. For a single infrastructure project, that is an extraordinary return in climate terms. The regional potential is just as striking. If similar shifts occurred across Central Asia, annual savings would reach 7–9 MtCO₂e by 2035 - the equivalent of removing two million cars from the road....

Earthquake

Earthquake Shakes Bishkek; No Major Damage Reported

A magnitude-4.3 earthquake struck near Besh-Kungey, about 19 km southeast of Bishkek, on September 12, 2025, at around 2:00 PM local time. The quake was very shallow - just 1 km deep - making its tremors strongly felt across the city. Local media outlet AKIpress described the quake as “strong,” with residents reporting shaking windows, rattled dishes, and minor panic, though no serious damage or injuries have been confirmed. The tremor’s intensity surprised many, given its moderate magnitude. No statement has yet been issued by the Kyrgyz Seismological Service confirming the depth or epicenter of the quake. Seismo.kg lists the event among recent felt tremors, but details remain scant. While the earthquake was clearly perceptible, especially in Bishkek, there are so far no reports of serious damage, injury, or casualties. Local authorities are monitoring the situation. Given Kyrgyzstan’s high seismic risk and known vulnerability in older or poorly constructed buildings, experts caution that even moderate quakes could carry elevated risk for such structures. This event underscores the seismic risk facing areas along fault lines in Central Asia. Though moderate in scale, it serves as a reminder of the importance of earthquake preparedness and resilient infrastructure in seismic zones.