Kazakhstan’s Atyrau Oil and Gas University (AOGU) has signed a memorandum of understanding with China’s Shanghai Aiko Solar Energy Company Limited (AIKO) to cooperate in renewable energy, artificial intelligence, agriculture, and advanced technology transfer, as part of efforts to expand sustainable technologies in western Kazakhstan.
The agreement includes plans to establish the AIKO-AOGU Zero-Carbon Smart Agriculture Demonstration Park at the university’s new campus in Atyrau, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
The demonstration park is expected to serve as a scientific, educational, and technological platform for testing modern agricultural solutions tailored to the arid climate and limited water resources of the Atyrau region.
According to the ministry, the facility will combine renewable energy systems, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and innovative farming practices to improve efficiency and sustainability.
The project will make extensive use of solar energy, AI-powered management systems, water-saving technologies, and automated agricultural solutions. It will also explore the development of aquaculture as an additional sustainable food production option.
“The project aims to address several strategic objectives simultaneously,” Utebayev University Rector Gulzada Shakulikova said. “The first stage involves the creation of solar greenhouses and demonstration agricultural plots. Smart irrigation and fertigation systems, water reuse infrastructure, solar power plants and energy storage systems, and digital management and monitoring platforms will also be implemented.”
She added that the partnership will also establish a joint AIKO-AOGU exhibition, education, and research center.
The initiative is expected to create new opportunities for university researchers and students, allowing them to participate in international-level scientific projects and technology development.
The agreement is part of the university’s efforts to develop green technologies and position Atyrau as a regional innovation hub in Central Asia for renewable energy and sustainable development.
For Kazakhstan, the project also reflects broader efforts to diversify the economy and modernize agriculture through climate-resilient technologies amid growing concerns over water scarcity and environmental sustainability.
