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TCA Interviews

Kazakhstan’s Independence Day: Plenty to Cheer, More to Consider

As Kazakhstan prepares to celebrate its Independence Day on December 16th, The Times of Central Asia (TCA) sat down with its special correspondent, Javier M. Piedra, a banker, corporate executive, writer, and seasoned international development expert whose professional ties to Kazakhstan date back to 2000. Piedra lived in Kazakhstan for 16 years. Over that time, he headed KPMG’s M&A (2007 – 2012), set up a credit bureau - the only one in the region at the time - and was a senior advisor for a private equity fund. He also taught corporate finance at Narxoz University. Back in Washington, he later managed USAID’s multibillion-dollar Asia Bureau under Donald Trump. Drawing on decades of experience in financial consulting, international development, and regional policy, Piedra offers wide-ranging insights into the nation’s evolution since 1991. In this conversation, he reflects on the mindset of Kazakhstan’s leadership – especially in recent years – that has led to, despite challenges, to its achievements - from economic reforms and institutional development to social progress and an increasingly dynamic national outlook. He highlights milestones worth celebrating, offers guidance to the next generation, and provides nuanced commentary on religious freedom and the country’s ongoing development path. The views expressed in this interview are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The Times of Central Asia. TCA: As Kazakhstan marks Independence Day on December 16, what core achievements of the country are most worth celebrating at this moment in its history? Piedra: On December 16th, I expect – and this is good news – President Tokayev to repeat what he said last year, i.e., “I am convinced that by maintaining our unity, tranquility and stability in society, we will overcome all challenges and reach new heights on the path of progress.” Put simply, Kazakhstan can stay unified and stable despite challenges if it commits to doing so. People need to hear this message because it is positive, and the record supports his optimism. It is worth celebrating the country’s positive attitude and confidence in the future. Kazakhstan’s greatest achievement since independence, despite forces pushing in the contrary direction, has been the ability of its multiethnic and multicultural society to flourish. Kazakhstan has preserved unity, strengthened friendships with neighbors, ensured economic freedoms, and inspired its youth with hope, despite trials, corruption, and human shortcomings. Kazakhstan’s dedication to unity is strengthened by its refusal to get pulled into unnecessary geopolitical ambitions or Great Power maneuverings that tend to rob countries of their sovereignty; this mindset is worth celebrating on Independence Day. TCA: You mention “confidence in the future.” What does that mean in the context of Independence Day? Piedra: The early days of Independence were rough, very rough, not only for Kazakhstan, but for the rest of the countries of Central Asia. Since independence in 1991, Kazakhstan has worked hard to build social and institutional structures that enable people to have greater “confidence in the future,” and there were many mistakes made, but Kazakhstan came...

Renewable Energy

Kazakhstan Launches First Domestic Green Hydrogen Production Station

Kazakhstan has unveiled its first fully integrated green hydrogen production station, a significant milestone in the country’s transition toward renewable energy and industrial innovation. The project, spearheaded by the Renewable Energy Laboratory at Nazarbayev University in Astana, is the first of its kind in Kazakhstan to receive a national patent, according to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Powered entirely by solar and wind energy, the pilot facility uses innovative, locally developed catalysts to convert renewable electricity into hydrogen through electrolytic water splitting. The hydrogen is then stored and can be used as fuel for motor vehicles or standalone generators. Currently, the laboratory-scale station is capable of filling a six-cubic-meter hydrogen cylinder in three hours. “This is a significant step toward the practical implementation of hydrogen technologies in Kazakhstan. What began as laboratory prototypes has evolved into a functional, outdoor industrial-scale system,” said Professor Nurshat Nurazhi, head of the Renewable Energy Laboratory. The project was developed in collaboration with Zhejiang H2-Bank Technology Co., Ltd. of China. “Partnership with an industrial leader ensured scalability and compliance with international standards for hydrogen production and safety,” noted Dr. Yerbolat Magazov, head of the hydrogen production team. “This system demonstrates the potential of domestic innovation in clean energy and sets a milestone for Kazakhstan’s scientific community.” The Kazakh government has identified hydrogen as a strategic component of its low-carbon transition. The Concept for the Development of Hydrogen Energy through 2030, approved in 2024, outlines hydrogen’s critical role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and diversifying the national energy mix.

Electricity

How Tajikistan Is Struggling to Keep the Lights On Amid Winter Power Shortages

As winter grips Tajikistan, severe electricity restrictions have become a daily reality. While officials claim that recent rainfall has helped partially stabilize the country’s largest hydroelectric power plant, residents across multiple regions report worsening shortages, with power barely available for a few hours each day. Government officials say that water inflow into the Nurek Reservoir has increased following recent rains. Kurbon Ahmadzoda, a representative of the state energy company Barki Tojik, reported an increase of 30-40 cubic meters per second, enabling authorities to supply electricity for four to five hours daily. Earlier, the government had attributed stricter electricity limits to a drop in water levels at the Nurek Hydroelectric Power Plant, which generates over half of Tajikistan’s electricity. A prolonged dry spell had reduced reservoir levels, triggering the latest round of supply cuts. “As of December 9, around seven meters of the reservoir’s total 53-meter reserve have already been used,” Ahmadzoda said, adding that recent rainfall had improved inflows into the Vakhsh River, which feeds the plant. Dustmurod Toirov, head of the Transmission Networks Control Center, confirmed a 15-20% increase in water inflow. As a result, daily depletion of the reservoir dropped from 23 centimeters to 17 centimeters. This, he said, allowed authorities to extend supply in some areas by an additional two to two-and-a-half hours. Toirov also claimed that residents in Khujand, Bokhtar, Kulob, and the Rudaki district were receiving consistent electricity, with high-rise buildings fully supplied. However, social media posts paint a different picture. Dozens of residents report receiving only one to three hours of electricity per day, describing increasing hardship as winter progresses. To address consumption, authorities have implemented strict rationing measures. Toirov said automated power cuts are triggered when household usage exceeds 4 kW, a move he claims has already led to more economical electricity use. In late November, the “Distribution Electric Networks” company sent mass SMS warnings to citizens: exceeding usage limits would result in 30-minute power cuts. Amid the broader energy crisis, the government has also introduced new penalties targeting illegal cryptocurrency mining, which officials say consumes large amounts of stolen electricity. Electricity rationing in Tajikistan typically begins in mid-autumn and continues through spring. However, in the past two years, restrictions have started earlier, as soon as September. The 2024-2025 winter has seen some of the harshest limits yet, with some regions receiving just two to four hours of electricity per day.

Healthcare

Uzbekistan Performs First Liver Transplant on Seven-Month-Old Infant

Uzbekistan has successfully performed its first liver transplant on a seven-month-old infant. The operation was carried out at the National Children’s Medical Center, with the child’s mother serving as the donor, a technically demanding procedure rarely performed worldwide. Medical specialists at the center emphasized that liver transplantation in infants under one year of age requires advanced surgical capabilities and extensive pre-operative assessment. Both mother and child underwent comprehensive evaluations prior to the operation. Surgeons transplanted a segment of the mother’s liver into the child, and the procedure was completed without complications. The mother has already been discharged in stable condition. The infant remains under close medical supervision, with doctors describing the child’s condition as stable and satisfactory. Preparations for discharge are currently underway. The Ministry of Health hailed the operation as a milestone for Uzbekistan’s healthcare sector, highlighting the increasing ability of domestic institutions to carry out high-complexity medical procedures. In a related development, the ministry also noted recent advances in orthopedic surgery. In October, during the “Days of Kazakh Medicine in Uzbekistan” event, surgeons from Kazakhstan conducted robotic-assisted joint replacement surgeries in Tashkent. The team, led by orthopedic surgeon Timur Baidalin from Kazakhstan’s Batpenov National Scientific Center, performed one knee and one hip replacement using the MAKO robotic system. The technology enables precise surgical planning and reduces the risk of complications.

Cultural Heritage

Kobyz Musical Instrument and Karakalpak Yurt Added to UNESCO Heritage List

At the 20th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in New Delhi from December 8-13, Uzbekistan’s nominations for the kobyz musical instrument and the Karakalpak yurt were officially approved for inclusion in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. As part of the application process, researchers documented the historical and cultural significance of the zhyrau (oral storytellers), whose performances are traditionally accompanied by the kobyz. A documentary film was also produced in Karakalpakstan, an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan, highlighting the craftsmanship involved in making the kobyz. The nomination emphasized the urgent need for preservation, citing a steady decline in the number of artisans who know the tradition. The kobyz is an ancient, bowed string instrument originating among Turkic peoples, with historical roots dating back to the 5th-8th centuries. Its haunting sound traditionally accompanies zhyrau performances and remains prevalent in both Karakalpakstan and Kazakhstan.

Podcast

Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia: New Episode Available Sunday

As Managing Editor of The Times of Central Asia, I’m delighted that, in partnership with the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, from October 19, we are the home of the Spotlight on Central Asia podcast. Chaired by seasoned broadcasters Bruce Pannier of RFE/RL’s long-running Majlis podcast and Michael Hillard of The Red Line, each fortnightly instalment will take you on a deep dive into the latest news, developments, security issues, and social trends across an increasingly pivotal region. The new episode, available this Sunday, will be dedicated to 16 Days Against Gender-Based Violence, with guests Svetlana Dzardanova, a gender and human rights researcher for Freedom for Eurasia, based in Bishkek, and Dariana Gryaznova, Eurasia consultant with Equality Now.