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Oil and Gas

Kazakhstan Agrees to Increase Oil Transit Through Azerbaijan

Kazakhstan’s KazMunayGas and Azerbaijan’s SOCAR have agreed to increase the transit of Kazakh oil through the Aktau-Baku-Ceyhan route in 2025. The decision was made during a meeting in Baku between KazMunayGas Chairman Askhat Hasenov and SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf, where they reviewed progress on the 2022 oil transportation agreement. At the end of 2024, the volume of Kazakh oil transported through Azerbaijan reached 1.4 million tons. Under the new plan, this figure is set to increase to 1.7 million tons in 2025. The expansion will enhance the transit potential of both Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, while boosting Kazakhstan’s access to global energy markets. Focus on Decarbonization and Energy Cooperation During the talks, the two companies also discussed their strategic partnership on decarbonization, which was formalized at the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP-29) in Azerbaijan. The agreement focuses on: Introducing low-carbon technologies in the oil and gas sector. Reducing harmful emissions from energy production. Additionally, discussions covered joint exploration projects, oil and gas production, investment opportunities, and the digitalization of industrial processes. “SOCAR is a key partner of KazMunayGas. Together, we will continue to contribute to global energy security and the stability of hydrocarbon supplies. This partnership will create new transit opportunities through the Caspian region,” said Hasenov. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan’s Broader Cooperation Beyond oil transit, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan recently signed an agreement to construct an underwater fiber-optic communication line across the Caspian Sea. The deal was finalized during Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov’s recent visit to Baku. This project, along with the expanded oil transit, highlights the deepening economic and strategic partnership between the two Caspian nations.

Central Asia’s AI Pursuit: A Tale of Ambition and Progress

The term “rare earth metals” has become a buzzword in the modern geo-economic lexicon, popularized by U.S. President Donald Trump in contexts where American investments are expected. However, before that, “artificial intelligence” (AI) had already emerged as a global symbol of technological advancement and economic competitiveness. At least four of the five Central Asian republics have joined the race to implement AI technologies, though, until recently, two of them lacked the necessary prerequisites for such a leap. Kazakhstan Sets the Pace A key factor for the successful adoption of AI is the level of digitalization, an area in which Kazakhstan has made significant progress. The country’s digital transformation began with the banking sector and later expanded to public services, with nearly 100% of government services now available online. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this shift, making digital access to state institutions and banks a necessity. Since 2022, when AI became synonymous with technological leadership, exemplified by developments in China and the U.S., Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has actively promoted AI initiatives. In the summer of 2023, the government adopted the Concept for the Development of Artificial Intelligence for 2024-2029. During discussions on this initiative, officials reviewed measures already in place, such as Smart Data Ukimet, a centralized system integrating data from 93 government databases. Plans include deploying a supercomputer, expanding data processing centers, launching a national AI platform, and enhancing fiber-optic networks. Additionally, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education is working on a large language model (LLM) focused on the Kazakh language and cultural heritage. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has set a clear goal: “By 2029, the number of AI-based products should increase fivefold. The share of educational programs related to AI must also expand. We need qualified specialists in this field, and it is crucial to consider the needs of domestic companies, which will have a multiplier effect on the economy.” Bektenov also emphasized the role of the National Center for AI in fostering youth involvement, developing human capital, and promoting AI culture. Furthermore, he instructed the Ministry of Justice to enhance legal frameworks for AI regulation. In December 2024, President Tokayev presented Kazakhstan’s first Kazakh language AI model, KazLLM, expressing satisfaction with its development: “We have taught artificial intelligence to think, analyze, and communicate in Kazakh. This achievement opens new prospects for our language in the digital sphere. We must build a Multimodal Language Model, capable of processing various data types simultaneously.” On March 3, 2025, Kazakhstan’s Mazhilis (lower house of parliament) reviewed a draft law, On Artificial Intelligence. If passed, it will be the world’s second AI law after the European AI Act. Uzbekistan's Ambitious Strategy Uzbekistan, another Central Asian country vying for AI leadership, has similarly prioritized digitalization. However, it lags slightly behind Kazakhstan in implementation speed. On October 14, 2024, Uzbekistan adopted its Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence Technologies Until 2030, which outlines several ambitious targets: Increasing AI-driven software and services to $1.5 billion Expanding AI-powered government services on the Single Portal of...

Women's Rights

Feminists in Kazakhstan Under Pressure Ahead of International Women’s Day

On March 8, the world marks the annual International Women’s Day, and in Kazakhstan’s commercial capital, Almaty, the authorities are again working to prevent public gatherings sponsored by feminist or LGBT groups. Since early February, several members of the feminist group, Feminita, have been detained in Almaty. Preemptive Measures Late March 3, an Almaty court sentenced Aktorgyn Akkenzhebalasy of the feminist group Feminita to ten days in jail after finding her guilty of violating the law on organization of peaceful assemblies. The charge dated back to May 2024, when six members of Feminita held an unsanctioned march in downtown Almaty, demanding a life sentence for former Minister of National Economy Kuandyk Bishimbayev. Bishimbayev beat his wife to death in a private room in an Almaty restaurant in November 2023. His trial from March to May 2024 was broadcast over television and widely watched by the public in Kazakhstan. Akkenzhebalasy was not the only Feminita activist to be jailed for participating in the May 2024 march. On February 28, Feminita co-founder Zhanar Sekerbayeva was jailed for ten days, meaning she would not be freed from jail until March 10, two days after International Women’s Day. Sekerbayeva and another Feminita co-founder, Gulzada Serzhan, were detained on February 13 after Bagila Baltabayeva, the leader of a group called Kazakhstan’s Union of Parents, and several other women burst into a Feminita meeting. Baltabayeva is also the author of a widely circulated petition against LGBT propaganda. Feminita activists said Baltabayeva called the police and complained that participants in the meeting were corrupting minors and had no permission to conduct their meeting. Kazakh independent media outlet Vlast cited witnesses as saying Baltabayeva also struck Akkenzhebalasy. All 25 of the Feminita members at the meeting were detained but quickly released except Sekerbayeva and Serzhan, who were kept at the police station for several hours and eventually charged with conducting public activities of an unregistered social organization. Baltabayeva and those who accompanied her to disrupt the meeting were not detained. On February 14, Feminita tried to have another meeting, but a group of women from the charity fund Rahym interrupted, calling the Feminita activists “foreign agents” and demanding they “get out!“ Again, police questioned the Feminita activists but not the Rahym members who burst into the meeting. On February 19, an Almaty court found Sekerbayeva and Serzhan guilty of holding a meeting of an unregistered organization and were each fined 393,000 tenge (about $1,500). The Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law released a statement noting Feminita had tried repeatedly to register with authorities but was always rejected. The statement also mentioned that Feminita activists had been attacked during meetings in other cities in Kazakhstan and that “All this happened with complete inaction or direct connivance of the police against the aggressors.” Women’s Day vs Women’s Rights There are no reports indicating that the authorities in Almaty, or officials in any other city in Kazakhstan, have approved any requests from feminist groups to conduct public...

USAID

USAID Pullback in Kazakhstan Creates Space for China and Raises Security Concerns – Expert

President Trump’s executive order restricting the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) globally has led to a reduction in Western-funded projects in Kazakhstan. USAID previously funded initiatives in humanitarian aid, media, blogging, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). As a result of the new U.S. administration's actions, experts suggest that China is expanding its influence. Gulmira Ileuova, head of the Strategy Foundation and a member of the advisory public organization, the National Kurultai, told TCA that the Kazakh government had already taken measures to limit foreign financial influence. "Kazakhstan was among the first post-Soviet countries to regulate foreign funding, requiring grant providers to be registered. Most of these organizations, including Soros-Kazakhstan and the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, operate within legal frameworks," she stated. Ileuova noted that German political foundations maintain a presence in Kazakhstan, while French grant-making organizations are largely absent. Beyond civil society projects, USAID also funded state-involved initiatives in education, healthcare, and energy. According to Ileuova, the withdrawal of USAID could lead to a shortfall in funding for NGOs, though state-backed projects are unlikely to be significantly affected. China’s Expanding Role Ileuova believes that China’s influence in Kazakhstan is growing faster than Russia’s, as Beijing has moved beyond economic partnerships to broader engagement." Russia relies on language and media ties to sustain its influence, while China is actively reshaping its approach," she said. Ileuova highlighted China’s soft power initiatives, including the Community of a Common Destiny for Mankind, which promotes cooperation and mutual development among nations. She also pointed to growing cultural and educational exchanges, suggesting that China’s approach mirrors past Western strategies of funding local partnerships and academic institutions. While China does not emphasize democracy or human rights in its outreach, its economic initiatives prioritize infrastructure development and poverty alleviation, often accompanied by media campaigns highlighting the benefits of Chinese investment. In recent years, Kazakhstan and China have strengthened cultural and educational ties. In August 2024, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated Chinese cultural centers in Astana and Beijing via video link. The Beijing Language and Culture University also opened a branch in Astana, marking the first Chinese university in Central Asia. Additionally, in February 2025, China’s Consul General in Almaty, Jiang Wei, attended the opening of the Belt and Road scientific and educational center in Almaty. Religious Extremism and Security Considerations Ileuova also stated that the withdrawal of USAID and Western funds is unlikely to directly impact radical religious groups, as Western organizations primarily engage with urban, educated populations rather than communities at risk of radicalization. In a recent interview, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Russia, Dauren Abayev, said that there is no immediate security risk from the return of Kazakh nationals who fought in Syria. According to official estimates, more than 30 Kazakhs remain in militant groups in Syria. From 2019 to 2021, the government carried out the Zhusan humanitarian operation, repatriating 600 individuals, including 413 children. Most male returnees were prosecuted and sentenced in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan continues to monitor and prosecute individuals linked to...

Water

Four New Reservoirs to Be Built in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation plans to begin construction of four new reservoirs in the west and south of the country this year, Minister Nurzhan Nurzhigitov announced at a government meeting. Kazakhstan regularly faces two conflicting water-related challenges: the risk of spring floods inundating settlements and a summer water shortage for agricultural irrigation. To address both issues, construction of the new reservoirs will begin in 2025. The Akmola and Kalguty reservoirs will be built in the Zhambyl region in southern Kazakhstan, while the Karaozek reservoir will be located in the Kyzylorda region in the southeast. The Bolshoi Uzen reservoir will be built in the West Kazakhstan region. "The Akmola, Kalguty, and Karaozek reservoirs will ensure water supply for 22,500 hectares of irrigated crops during the growing season, while the Bolshoi Uzen reservoir will help retain flood and meltwater, preventing flooding in two settlements with a combined population of 5,000," Nurzhigitov said. In addition to the new reservoirs, the government plans to reconstruct the Ters-Ashchybulak and Karakonyz reservoirs in the Zhambyl region, as well as the Koskorgan reservoir and the Koksarai counter-regulator in the Turkestan region in 2025. As part of an irrigation infrastructure modernization program, 115 canals covering a total of 3,452 kilometers will be upgraded across six regions: Almaty, Zhambyl, Zhetysu, West Kazakhstan, Kyzylorda, and Turkestan. Additionally, new structures will be built to replenish the Astana reservoir. "By the end of the year, 12 projects for the construction and reconstruction of group water pipelines will be completed, providing 153 villages, home to 423,000 people, with access to quality drinking water. At the same time, 52 settlements will be connected to a centralized water supply system," Nurzhigitov added. Flood Preparedness Concerns Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s ruling AMANAT party held a meeting of its Party Control Committee, which sharply criticized the country’s flood preparedness. According to party officials, 1,223 settlements across Kazakhstan are currently at risk of flooding. The country has 1,395 hydraulic structures designed to control water flow, but 564 of them require repairs, including 20 that are in critical condition. In the event of their failure, 536 settlements, home to more than 1.3 million people, could be at risk of severe flooding. The party emphasized that public concerns over flood preparedness remain high, with approximately 100 complaints submitted this year regarding the condition of dams, drainage channels, and other protective infrastructure. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, Kazakhstan began releasing water from reservoirs as early as January to maximize storage capacity ahead of the flood season.

United Nations

UN General Assembly Backs Kazakhstan’s Initiative to Establish UN Center in Almaty

The United Nations General Assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the establishment of the UN Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty. The initiative was put forward by Kazakhstan on behalf of the Central Asian states. According to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry, 152 UN member states co-sponsored the resolution, underscoring its broad international support and high significance. Kazakhstan’s Role in Regional Development The idea to establish the UN SDG Centre was first proposed by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the 74th session of the UN General Assembly. He suggested locating the center in Almaty’s new Building of International Organizations, which already hosts 18 UN agencies. Tokayev emphasized that, as the largest economy in Central Asia, Kazakhstan is committed to strengthening regional cooperation and promoting sustainable development. He highlighted the growing role of middle powers in global governance, positioning Kazakhstan as a key player in fostering regional integration and international collaboration. A Hub for Regional Cooperation The new UN SDG Centre will serve as a platform for coordinating international and regional efforts, facilitating best practice exchanges, providing technical assistance, and implementing joint projects. It will work closely with governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society to achieve measurable development outcomes. Additionally, the center will play a crucial role in revitalizing the UN system at the regional level. Its mission includes enhancing coordination between UN agencies, adapting global initiatives to regional priorities, and promoting inclusive multilateral cooperation, a goal aligned with ongoing UN reforms aimed at improving efficiency and effectiveness. Supporting Afghanistan’s Economic Stability A key focus of the center will be economic development in Afghanistan, as the country’s stability and prosperity are directly linked to the security and well-being of Central Asia. By addressing Afghanistan’s economic challenges, the center aims to contribute to long-term regional stability and growth.