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Kazakhstan Appoints Operator for Karachaganak Gas Processing Plant Construction

Kazakhstan has identified the participants in a project to construct a new gas processing plant (GPP) at the Karachaganak field, aimed at supplying the domestic market with commercial gas. The national company QazaqGaz will act as the single project operator, while China’s CITIC Construction has expressed readiness to participate. Initially, the launch of the GPP, with a capacity of up to 4 billion cubic meters of gas per year, was scheduled for 2028. Construction was to be carried out by Shell and Eni, both involved in developing the Karachaganak field in the West Kazakhstan region. However, in March 2026, Kazakhstan withdrew from this arrangement due to significant cost overruns and disagreements over implementation terms. At present, gas from Karachaganak is processed at the Orenburg GPP in Russia. Kazakhstan aims to relocate processing to its own territory to strengthen energy security and reduce dependence on external infrastructure, particularly amid periodic disruptions linked to drone attacks. According to current plans, the capacity of the future plant may be increased to 5 billion cubic meters per year. The project is a key element of Kazakhstan’s Comprehensive Gas Industry Development Plan through 2029 and is being implemented on the instructions of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Minister of Energy Yerlan Akkenzhenov confirmed that the selection of QazaqGaz as the single operator is driven by the need to move quickly to the implementation stage and by the company’s experience in managing gas infrastructure. The project’s economic feasibility has been confirmed, and a framework agreement outlining basic principles of cooperation has been signed with CITIC Construction. Preparations are currently underway for the FEED (Front-End Engineering Design) stage, while issues related to land allocation, infrastructure, and feedstock supply are also being addressed. Particular attention is being paid to negotiations with foreign shareholders in the Karachaganak project. Key issues include guaranteed supplies of raw gas, establishing a pricing mechanism that ensures domestic market viability, integrating the plant with existing field infrastructure (brownfield), and resolving the gas evacuation fee mechanism. “For Kazakhstan, this plant is of critical importance, and indefinitely postponing the project’s start is unacceptable. The state needs results. The project must be implemented dynamically and in strict accordance with our national economic interests,” Akkenzhenov said. The project is unfolding against the backdrop of legal disputes between Kazakhstan and international energy companies. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Shell and Eni may ultimately be required to pay the Kazakh government between $2 billion and $4 billion following international arbitration proceedings in London. In addition, similar disputes are ongoing over another major project, the Kashagan field, where proceedings are being considered at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes in Washington.

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Kazakhstan Begins First Public-Private Partnership Sports Facility Project

Construction has begun in the Atyrau region on Kazakhstan’s first sports boarding school for athletically gifted children, to be implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the private partner will be responsible for the full project cycle from design and construction to technical maintenance of the facility for five years after its completion, which is scheduled for May 2027. The new school will feature modern academic buildings and residential facilities. The 3.2-hectare site will include an academic block for 400 students, a 300-bed dormitory, 13 gyms, a swimming pool, a cafeteria, a library, a stadium, running tracks, and basketball and volleyball courts. The project in Atyrau is intended as a pilot, with plans to replicate similar facilities in other regions of the country. The school is expected to train 400 young athletes across 13 Olympic sports. Officials say the project will create improved conditions for developing the country’s sports reserve by integrating academic education with professional training. In recent years, the development of sports in Kazakhstan has received increased state support, contributing to stronger performances by Kazakh athletes in international competitions. In the first quarter of 2026, Kazakhstani athletes won 200 medals at international events: 79 gold, 57 silver, and 64 bronze. At the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy, in February, Kazakhstan won one gold medal and finished 19th in the overall medal standings. This marks the country’s best result since 1994, when it placed 12th at the Lillehammer Olympics, where skier Vladimir Smirnov won gold. In 2026, Kazakhstan’s only medal was secured by figure skater Mikhail Shaidorov, who became the country’s first Olympic champion in figure skating. At the Paralympic Games in Italy in March 2026, Kazakhstan placed 18th out of 55 countries in the medal standings. Yerbol Khamitov won two medals, gold in the biathlon pursuit and bronze in cross-country sprint, becoming the first Kazakhstani athlete to win two medals at a Winter Paralympics.

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Hungary’s Political Shift Puts Central Asia Partnerships Under Scrutiny

Hungary’s political transition following the defeat of Viktor Orbán’s party and his resignation as prime minister is drawing attention not only in the EU and the United States, but also in Central Asia, where Budapest has built growing energy and investment ties. The key question is whether the policy of cooperation with Central Asia developed under Orbán will continue under the new leadership. In recent years, under Orbán, Budapest has actively developed its Central Asian foreign policy, primarily driven by the desire to find alternatives to Russian energy supplies. That push reflects Hungary’s long-standing reliance on Russian oil and gas, which has shaped its search for alternative suppliers beyond Europe. Resource-rich Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan became natural partners for diplomatic engagement. Orbán succeeded in building trust-based relationships with the presidents of the Central Asian republics, grounded in what Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Péter Szijjártó, described as “sincere friendship” in an interview with Uzbek media. “In Hungary, we have always viewed Central Asia as one of the fastest-growing regions in the world, with enormous potential. Our efforts to build these relations did not begin today, but decades ago,” he said. Hungary became the first Central European country to sign a strategic partnership with Kazakhstan in 2014. Currently, the Kazakhstan-Hungary Business Council is in operation, along with a joint agricultural direct investment fund. In 2024, bilateral trade approached $200 million, and from January to August 2025, it grew by another 22.1%, exceeding $164.6 million. Hungarian investments in Kazakhstan’s economy have surpassed $370 million, while the current investment portfolio includes 16 projects worth about $700 million in engineering, agriculture, and logistics. These links also intersect with wider efforts to expand east–west transport routes through the Caspian region, offering Hungary indirect access to Central Asian energy and trade flows. In May 2025, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held talks with Orbán in Budapest, where both sides highlighted rising trade volumes and a joint investment portfolio of about $500 million. Hungary’s OTP Bank entered into Uzbekistan’s financial market in 2023, acquiring a 73.71% stake in Ipoteka Bank, becoming its principal owner and the majority shareholder of the country’s fifth-largest bank. As early as 2019, Hungary had intensified cooperation with Turkmenistan. After talks at the Turkmen Foreign Ministry, Szijjártó told the media that Hungary views Turkmenistan as an important country from the perspective of European security. “We very much hope that Turkmenistan’s gas resources will be integrated into the overall energy flow of Central Europe,” he said. However, uncertainty remains over whether this policy direction will continue under Orbán’s successor, Péter Magyar. Oil and gas analyst Oleg Chervinsky has suggested that political changes in Hungary could affect cooperation with Kazakhstan’s national company KazMunayGas (KMG). Chervinsky notes that, having secured a constitutional majority in parliament, Magyar has a mandate to “implement reforms in both foreign and domestic policy [which could] reshape the constitutional structure of the right-wing populist authoritarian system built around Orbán.” The analyst points to Hungary’s oil and gas company MOL Group, which in recent...

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Contemporary Theater in Kazakhstan: Between Tradition and Experiment

Contemporary theater in Kazakhstan is undergoing a period of active development, balancing the preservation of cultural heritage with the search for new forms of expression. The Times of Central Asia spoke with Abai Kazbayev, an actor at the Zhambyl Regional Russian Drama Theater who is currently studying acting and directing, about how the theater scene is evolving, the challenges faced by actors and directors, and why experimentation has become essential. TCA: Tell us about yourself. How did your journey into theater begin, and what influenced your decision to become an actor? Abai: I entered the profession through my love of cinema. At first, I took part in crowd scenes, and then I became fascinated with the filmmaking process itself. To deepen my involvement, I joined a private theater on the recommendation of friends. There, I had the opportunity to work with Saulius Varnas from Lithuania, as well as with professionals such as Marat Amirayev and Altynshash Shayakhmetova. Today, I'm studying acting and directing at university, while also working at the Zhambyl Regional Russian Drama Theater. TCA: How do you assess the current state of contemporary theater in Kazakhstan? Abai: If we distinguish contemporary theater from traditional formats, most such productions are concentrated in Almaty. In other cities, theater tends to follow a more academic style, although there are exceptions. Personally, I'm drawn to how contemporary theaters reinterpret and reimagine classical works. This approach attracts both new and more discerning audiences. TCA: What makes Kazakhstani theater distinctive compared to that of other countries? Abai: Its uniqueness lies in the combination of cultures. We have European forms, ballet and opera, alongside contemporary interpretations, including those inspired by Bulat Ayukhanov. On the one hand, there are traditional productions about khans and batyrs; on the other, there are stories such as that of a boxer in Almaty in the 1980s, a stage adaptation of Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull. TCA: How can contemporary theater preserve national traditions while remaining engaging for younger audiences? Abai: Through experimentation. For example, last year in Taraz, a sound drama based on Alexander Grin’s novella Scarlet Sails was staged. It offered a new interpretation: some lines were delivered in Kazakh, and Captain Grey’s song was also performed in Kazakh. It was an attempt to reflect Kazakhstan’s multiculturalism. Interestingly, the production was staged by students from GITIS in Russia. I believe such experiments help attract younger audiences while preserving national traditions. TCA: How important are elements of national culture, language, music, and folklore in today’s productions? Abai: There's currently a broader trend across the arts of returning to cultural roots, and theater is no exception. Every culture seeks self-identification. In cinema, folklore characters are widely used, particularly in the horror genre. In the theater, however, folklore tends to remain within traditional productions and is often treated with a sense of reverence. At the same time, it is worth mentioning the ballet Aldar Köse at the Abai Kazakh National Theater of Opera and Ballet in Almaty. TCA: How do you view experimental...

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Central Asia Holds Back on Hungary Election as Orbán Era Ends

Central Asian governments have still yet to issue public statements on Hungary’s election, which brought an end to Viktor Orbán’s 16-year tenure. Hungary’s National Election Office published official updates after the April 12 vote, with Orbán conceding defeat after preliminary results indicated a landslide victory for Péter Magyar’s Tisza party. European leaders responded quickly, but no comparable messages have appeared on the main official channels in Astana, Tashkent, Bishkek, Dushanbe, or Ashgabat. The absence is not a breach of diplomatic protocol. Governments often wait for formal certification or initial contacts before issuing congratulations after parliamentary elections. Yet Hungary occupies a distinct place in Central Asia’s external relations. It is an observer in the Organization of Turkic States, and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attended the informal OTS summit in Budapest, where Viktor Orbán hosted regional leaders and promoted closer ties. Hungary has presented itself as a bridge between Central Asia and the European Union, with regular high-level exchanges and expanding economic links. Recent precedent underscores the contrast. Following Hungary’s 2022 election, Kazakhstan’s Akorda said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sent Viktor Orbán a congratulatory telegram on April 4, the day after the vote, and Uzbekistan reported that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev phoned Orbán on April 14, 2022 to offer his congratulations. No similar outreach has been made public so far in 2026. The delay reflects a period of adjustment rather than a clear shift. Orbán’s government had cultivated close personal and political ties with Central Asian leaders, and Budapest played an active role in advancing cooperation through the Turkic framework. A new Hungarian administration may recalibrate those priorities as it seeks to strengthen relations within the EU, creating uncertainty for partners that had relied on Hungary as a consistent advocate in Europe. For now, the silence signals caution. Central Asian governments appear to be waiting for the formal transition in Budapest and for early indications of the new government’s foreign policy. If statements follow in the coming days, the current pause will look procedural. If it continues, it will carry more weight as a sign of recalibration in a relationship that had been unusually close.

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Tajikistan Didn´t Qualify for World Cup, But Its Young Players Are Winning

Uzbekistan have qualified for this year's FIFA World Cup, while Tajikistan didn’t make it to the tournament. But their fortunes were reversed in a Central Asian junior event, suggesting that Tajik football is poised for a brighter future. Coached by Jafar Akhmedov, Tajikistan’s team won the Central Asian Football Association U17 championship on Monday, securing the title with a 0-0 draw with second-placed Uzbekistan in Tashkent. Tajikistan was top of the field with 10 points, while Uzbekistan had eight. Previously, Tajikistan’s team beat Turkmenistan (5-1), Kyrgyzstan (4-0) and Afghanistan (3-2). Two players on the Tajik team were recognized individually by the tournament. Bihisti Rajabzod was awarded the prize of most valuable player, or MVP, and the top scorer was Sioyosh Nazarov with four goals. The headquarters of the Central Asia Football Association, a sub-group of the Asian Football Confederation, is in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Its six members are Afghanistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Kazakhstan has been a member of the Union of European Football Associations, or UEFA, since 2002. Uzbekistan will compete in the World Cup for the first time this year and faces Colombia, Portugal and Democratic Republic of Congo in Group K. Uzbekistan’s team is led by coach Fabio Cannavaro, captain of Italy’s winning team in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Tajikistan turned in some solid performances in World Cup qualifying games, including a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia and a 3-0 win over Pakistan. Although Tajikistan didn’t manage to qualify for this year’s expanded tournament, it has qualified for the AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia next year.