Local Politics - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 613 - 618 of 1265

Oil & Gas

Kyrgyzstan to Modernize Oil Refinery in Jalal-Abad

On September 28, Kyrgyzstan's largest oil refinery, located in the southern city of Jalal-Abad, began a large-scale modernization. Operated by Kyrgyz Petroleum Company, the refinery produces AI-80 gasoline, diesel fuel, and fuel oil. Kyrgyzstan's annual gasoline and diesel fuel demand is 1.4 million tons. The refinery in Jalal-Abad can meet only 6.5% of that demand. After the modernization project, the refinery will be able to meet 32% of the domestic demand. After modernization, AI-92 and AI-95 gasoline production would increase more than 12-fold, and diesel fuel production would grow by 40%. The total investment in modernizing the refinery will amount to $410 million, including $200 million in foreign investments and $110 million from the Kyrgyz government. Today, almost all gasoline and diesel fuel used by Kyrgyzstan is imported from Russia. The Times of Central Asia earlier reported that Kyrgyzstan proposed oil-rich Azerbaijan to sign a long-term contract to supply Azeri crude oil to Kyrgyzstan. Azeri crude oil is needed for Kyrgyzstan’s Junda oil refinery. Located in Kara-Balta, about 100 kilometers west of Bishkek, the refinery reopened late in August after a major overhaul. It now plans to reach its total annual capacity of processing 800,000 tons of crude oil by the end of this year.

Rule of Law

World Justice Project: Kazakhstan Leads, Uzbekistan Improves, Kyrgyzstan Drops

The World Justice Project has announced the 2023 ranking of countries based on the rule of law. The ranking is based on eight indicators across 142 countries, which include constraints on government powers, the absence of corruption, open government, fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement, civil justice, and criminal justice. Denmark, Norway, and Finland occupy the highest places on the list. Kazakhstan has the highest score among the countries of Central Asia, placing in 65th. The country's ranking in terms of corruption, order and security, and civil justice all improved. Uzbekistan placed in 78th, with its indicators for order and security particularly high; the state is listed 17th in this category, with indicators for the absence of corruption also positive. Both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have improved their ranking by 2 points compared to last year. Kyrgyzstan, meanwhile, dropped one place to 103rd, whilst Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are not included in the rankings.

Green Energy

Uzbekistan Plans to Increase Share of Green Energy to 40% by 2030

Uzbekistan intends to increase the share of renewable energy sources in the country’s energy consumption structure to 40% by 2030. Energy Minister Zhurabek Mirzamakhmudov announced this at the “Russian Energy Week" forum. According to Mirzamakhmudov, renewable energy, including solar and wind power plants, will become the basis for meeting the growing electricity demand as part of the country's growth strategy. Mirzamakhmudov noted that Uzbekistan's economy is growing by 6% annually, and the population will continue to grow. This causes the demand for electricity to grow by 7-8% per year, and by 2030, this figure may stabilize at 7.5%. Uzbekistan plans to introduce up to 20 gigawatts of solar and wind power plant capacity to meet this demand. It is expected that the share of renewable energy sources in the country's total energy balance will reach 40%. The share of renewable energy is about 10%, but by the end of this year, it should increase to 15%. In the coming years, 2.5 to 3.5 gigawatts of new capacity will be commissioned annually. In addition, considerable attention will be paid to developing thermal and hydroelectric power plants, which are planned to reach 18.5 gigawatts of capacity by 2030. The minister also emphasized the importance of energy storage systems. Uzbekistan plans to install 300 megawatts of storage capacity this year and increase it to 4.2 gigawatts by 2030, mainly using lithium-ion batteries. Along with this, projects to create hydro-battery stations will be implemented. Mirzamakhmudov added that all these projects are financed by foreign direct investment, demonstrating the high interest of international investors in the country's energy sector. The Russian Energy Week 2024 forum is being held in Moscow from September 26 to 28. The event's main theme is “Energy Cooperation in a Multipolar World.” More than 70 speakers from various countries have participated, including from Russia, BRICS countries, and Africa. The forum discussed topics such as sustainable energy development, the role of hydrocarbons in the future, and issues of technological independence. One of the key events was the meeting of BRICS energy ministers. Earlier, The Times of Central Asia wrote about the annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) held in Samarkand on September 25-26, where Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed a program of green energy development for Central Asia.

Environment

UNESCO Concerned About Plans to Develop Western Tien Shan

UNESCO has expressed concern over the plans of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan to develop natural areas of the Western Tien Shan, a World Natural Heritage site. This concern was realized after a visit by UNESCO and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which was a joint mission to these countries to assess the state of the site and the impact of economic activity on it. The public foundation (PF) “Rivers Without Borders” stated this in its report. According to UNESCO, the “Western Tien Shan” is a transboundary site in the Central Asian Tien Shan mountain system, one of the seven largest mountain ranges in the world. The altitude of different sections of the Western Tien Shan varies from 700 to 4503 meters. The site consists of diverse landscapes characterized by a vibrant biodiversity. The Western Tien Shan region is important globally as it is the birthplace of several fruit tree species and is characterized by diverse forest types and unique plant life. In Kyrgyzstan, evidence of the illegal mining of gold within the territory of the World Heritage Site was revealed. In addition, a powerful hydroelectric power plant is planned to be built on the Chatkal River, which may flood protected areas and disrupt the landscape. The construction of the Talas-Chatkal-Tashkent highway along the reservoir will only aggravate the ecological situation. In Kazakhstan, the authorities plan to build a cascade of hydropower plants on the Ugam River, which could destroy the current river ecosystem. Part of the river's flow will be directed through a 210-kilometer pipe for use in other regions of Turkestan region. Experts expressed severe concerns about destroying the natural ecosystem and possible consequences for local flora and fauna. The situation is no less alarming in Uzbekistan: the Chatkal and Ugam rivers have already been dammed, significantly altering their natural landscape. During the visit, the experts said that bulldozers and excavators are already changing the course of the Ugam River, channeling it into artificial channels to construct several small hydropower plants. Rivers Without Borders also oppose these projects, pointing out that they violate international standards and UNESCO requirements. The organization's chief specialist, Evgeny Simonov, stressed that implementing the projects without appropriate environmental assessments and consultations with UNESCO violates the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The report on the mission's results is expected to be presented at the next session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in 2025 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Crime

Gang Involved in Selling Children Abroad Neutralized in Kyrgyzstan

A transnational criminal gang engaged in the illegal adoption and sale of children abroad has been disrupted in Kyrgyzstan. The State Committee for National Security (SCNS) reported that the group included foreign and Kyrgyz citizens. In the period from 2022, the criminals used various manipulation tactics and bribery to obtain custody rights over children from socially vulnerable families, after which they illegally transported them out of the country for sale. As a result of investigative and operational measures, on September 20 the group's leaders were detained and placed in the SCNS's detention center. An investigation is ongoing to identify the remaining group members and those who assisted them. The situation with child trafficking in Kyrgyzstan remains an acute problem despite the efforts of the authorities. The country is a source and transit point for human trafficking, including children, who are often victims of sexual exploitation or illegal adoption. Criminal groups use corrupt connections and manipulation to gain custody of children from socially vulnerable families. One of the main problems is the lack of resources and coordination between law enforcement and social services, which makes it challenging to eradicate the trade. International organizations also point to the need to strengthen control over migration, as child trafficking is often associated with the export of minors out of the country. The Kyrgyz government is cooperating with international organizations such as the UN and Interpol to combat human trafficking, but further strengthening of law enforcement and prevention of such crimes is required to address the problem.

Russia

Fallout From Assault on Tashkent Schoolboy Reaches Russian Foreign Ministry

On September 23 a teacher at a school in Tashkent's Chilonzor district slapped a student when the child asked for the Russian language class to be taught in Russian. The Children’s Ombudsman of Uzbekistan, Surayyo Rahmonova, has begun an investigation into the incident -- but not before news of the assault reached Russia. Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that she was concerned about the content of a video of the slap that was posted on social media. “We have requested official clarification from the Uzbek side,” Zakharova commented. “The Uzbek side is urgently asked to give the media material a legal assessment and, if justified, to take action against the perpetrator of cruel treatment of the child. We are keeping this issue under the closest attention.” The leader of Uzbekistan’s Milli Tiklanish (National Revival) party and deputy speaker of the lower house of parliament, Alisher Qodirov commented on Telegram that “it would be better for [Russia] to deal with their own affairs [which are] full of problems than to deal with our internal issues. The violation of rights of an Uzbek child at a school in Uzbekistan will be investigated in accordance with Uzbek laws.” A vocal critic of Russian influence, earlier this year Qodirov proposed a ban on the provision of public services to persons who don’t speak the Uzbek, and the promotion of Soviet ideology and symbols in Uzbekistan.