Our People > Dmitry Pokidaev

Dmitry Pokidaev

Journalist

Dmitry Pokidaev is a journalist based in Astana, Kazakhstan, with experience at some of the country's top media outlets. Before his career in journalism, Pokidaev worked as an academic, teaching Russian language and literature.

Articles

life expectancy

Life Expectancy in Kazakhstan Reaches Record High

Life expectancy in Kazakhstan has reached 75.97 years, setting a record for the entire period of independence, according to the Ministry of Health. For comparison, in 1991 the figure stood at 67.6 years; in 2001 it fell to 65.6 years; in 2011 it rose to 68.98 years; and in 2021 it reached 70.23 years. Overall, life expectancy has increased by more than eight years over the past three decades. The ministry attributes this growth largely to measures aimed at combating noncommunicable diseases. In 2025, Kazakhstan ranked among the top ten countries in the European Region of the World Health Organization for reducing mortality from such diseases by 25%. According to the ministry, a systematic approach to prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of chronic conditions has underpinned this positive trend. The government is also implementing a healthcare development strategy through 2029, which aims to raise life expectancy to 77 years. The strategy includes measures to strengthen primary healthcare, introduce digital solutions, develop human resources, and advance medical science. Priorities include reducing premature mortality from cardiovascular and oncological diseases, diabetes, and chronic respiratory conditions. The plan was developed with the participation of international organizations, including UNICEF and United Nations Population Fund. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Kazakhstan became the first country in the region to meet its targets for reducing premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases. At the same time, rising life expectancy is accompanied by demographic shifts. According to Kazakhstan’s Unified Accumulative Pension Fund, by 2050 approximately 19% of the population will be of retirement or pre-retirement age.

7 days ago

Coal Industry

Kazakhstan Plans Diesel Fuel Production from Coal

Two projects to produce diesel fuel from coal are underway in Kazakhstan, Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said at a government meeting. According to the minister, the projects, each with a capacity of 100,000 tons of diesel fuel per year, are being implemented in the Pavlodar and Karaganda regions. Their costs are estimated at $63 million and $65 million, respectively. As part of efforts to develop the coal chemical industry, a $132 million project is also underway in the Karaganda region to produce metallurgical coke, with a capacity of 1 million tons per year. The minister said the three projects will create about 3,000 jobs. Currently, around 32,000 people are employed in the coal industry. Three additional projects are in the planning stage. These include a coke-chemical production facility in the Karaganda region with coal tar processing capacity of up to 200,000 tons per year, benzene production of up to 35,000 tons, and coke oven gas purification. Authorities are also considering the construction of a plant in the Abai region to produce ammonia and urea from coal (300,000 tons per year of each product), as well as a project to produce up to 2 billion cubic meters of gas from coal. The minister noted that the development of the coal chemical industry faces several challenges, including high capital intensity, technological complexity, and the need to establish an appropriate regulatory framework. He added that developing this sector would reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and increase exports of higher value-added products. The coal industry remains strategically important to the country’s economy. In 2025, coal production reached 115.9 million tons, an increase of 7% compared to the previous year. Domestic consumption totaled 85.9 million tons, while exports stood at 30 million tons. In 2026, coal production is projected to reach 128.9 million tons. Investment in the sector amounted to approximately $655 million in 2025 and is expected to rise to $1.1 billion in 2026. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Kazakhstan’s coal reserves could meet the country’s energy needs for 200-300 years. The authorities have also approved a coal-fired power generation development program that involves the construction of eight new power plants and the modernization of 11 existing ones.

7 days ago

household income

Kazakhstan Targets Growth in Real Household Income

The government of Kazakhstan plans to increase real household income by 2–3% by 2029, according to the Ministry of National Economy. The program includes measures to stimulate employment, raise wages, support entrepreneurship, and create sustainable jobs. Key priorities include increasing wages for public utility workers, civil servants, and agricultural workers; expanding the share of wages in GDP; creating jobs in the manufacturing sector; supporting export-oriented enterprises; and reducing the financial burden on households. The ministry said 2026 will be a pivotal year for establishing sustainable income growth. A joint plan by the government, the National Bank, and the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market aims to reduce inflation to 9-11% in 2026, 5.5-7.5% in 2027, and 5-7% in 2028. Authorities expect that slowing inflation will increase the purchasing power of incomes. Inflation has already declined from 12.9% in September 2025 to 11% in March 2026. From April 1, tariff policy will be implemented more cautiously. The ministry estimates that tariff increases will add no more than 0.35 percentage points to inflation. At the same time, electricity and transportation tariffs for producers of socially significant goods are set to be reduced by up to 70%. The government also plans to limit the growth of budget expenditures, with their share of GDP expected to decline to 15.1% in 2026. Reductions in transfers from the National Fund will continue, and for the first time in five years, the budget is expected to be executed without targeted transfers. In 2025, targeted transfers from the fund amounted to approximately $6.9 billion, while the guaranteed transfer for 2026 has been set at $5.8 billion. According to the National Statistics Bureau, nominal household income grew by 10.2% in 2025, while real income declined by 1.1%. Average per capita income stood at approximately $506. The ministry noted that the decline in real incomes indicates that economic growth is not sufficiently translating into improved living standards, underscoring the need for additional measures to create jobs and raise wages. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov called for increasing the share of wages in GDP to 40%.

1 week ago

Bilateral Trade

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister: Astana and Kyiv Seeking to Restore Trade

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister, Olexandr Mishchenko, discussed prospects for trade and economic cooperation, including the possible resumption of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, during a meeting on April 2 with Serik Zhumangarin, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the National Economy. In comments to The Times of Central Asia, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry representative said Astana and Kyiv are aiming to restore bilateral trade. Trade between Kazakhstan and Ukraine reached approximately $5.5 billion annually before the war but has since declined sharply. However, according to Kazakh data, the situation has begun to improve. The Ministry of National Economy reported that trade turnover between the two countries totaled $415.8 million in 2025, up 5.4% from $394.3 million in 2024. Kazakhstan’s main exports to Ukraine include ferroalloys, fertilizers, and rice, while imports from Ukraine consist of chocolate and other cocoa products, flour and confectionery, medicines, cheese, and cottage cheese. [caption id="attachment_46523" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Image: Ukrainian Embassy in Kazakhstan[/caption] Astana and Kyiv also intend to expand the range of goods traded. During interdepartmental consultations held in Astana, the sides discussed trade, investment, agriculture, logistics, and humanitarian cooperation, with a focus on export diversification. They agreed to intensify business contacts, consider resuming the Intergovernmental Commission, and expand cooperation in priority sectors, particularly the agro-industrial complex. Mishchenko said the countries also plan to strengthen cooperation in the energy sector and restore logistics chains. Until 2022, Ukraine provided key transit routes for Kazakh exports to Europe. Before 2022, a significant share of Kazakhstan’s westbound trade relied on routes passing through or near Ukrainian infrastructure. The war disrupted those pathways and forced a broader regional shift toward alternative corridors, including routes across the Caspian and South Caucasus, which remain longer, more complex, and often more expensive. “Territorial integrity remains the cornerstone of our cooperation. We are deeply grateful to Kazakhstan for its humanitarian aid: more than 600 tons were collected, particularly during the winter. This support was critical to Ukraine’s resilience,” Mishchenko said. The visit marked the first trip by a senior Ukrainian government representative to Kazakhstan in recent years. A large delegation of Ukrainian entrepreneurs accompanied Mishchenko, seeking to re-establish business ties with Kazakh partners. “Despite the ongoing conflict, Ukraine is already looking toward the post-war future, and concrete proposals for cooperation, including in energy, are being developed through bilateral engagement with Kazakhstan,” Mishchenko told The Times of Central Asia. “Kazakhstan’s energy resources create opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation, including potential integration into Ukrainian markets.” Mishchenko noted that a Ukrainian business mission, the first in many years, visited Kazakhstan, including the Pavlodar Region, a major industrial hub with significant heavy industry and energy capacity. “This creates real demand for modernization, engineering solutions, and equipment supplies,” he said. The delegation held meetings with government officials, financial institutions, and business representatives, alongside regional visits aimed at launching joint projects. In Astana, talks were held with the leadership of Baiterek National Management Holding. Ukrainian entrepreneurs also visited the Astana International Financial Centre and the city administration,...

1 week ago

Oil and Gas

Major Hydrocarbon Field Discovered in Kazakhstan

A major hydrocarbon field has been discovered in Kazakhstan’s Atyrau Region, with reserves potentially comparable to those of the Kashagan oil field, the country’s largest oil source, according to Kurmangazy Iskaziyev, First Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of KazMunayGas. The site is located on the Zhylyoi Platform near the Caspian Sea coast. Its onshore location could significantly reduce development costs, although the deposits are believed to lie at considerable depths. Kashagan has long stood as the symbol of both Kazakhstan’s oil wealth and the technical difficulty of extracting it. The offshore field cemented the country’s position as a major crude producer, but also became known for cost overruns, delays, and the engineering challenges of operating in the northern Caspian. Any onshore discovery mentioned in the same breath immediately raises expectations that it could avoid some of those constraints while delivering comparable scale. Kashagan, discovered in the northern Caspian Sea, remains one of the largest oil fields found globally in recent decades. Its recoverable reserves are estimated at 9–13 billion barrels of oil, with gas reserves exceeding 1 trillion cubic meters. Development is carried out by the North Caspian Operating Company consortium, which includes Shell, TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil, Eni, China National Petroleum Corporation, Inpex, and KazMunayGas. Speaking at the Geoscience & Exploration Central Asia forum, Iskaziyev said the resource potential of the Zhylyoi Block, including Karaton, Kazhygali, and Zhylyoi, is estimated at 4.7 billion tons, with total geological potential reaching up to 20 billion tons of oil equivalent. At this stage, such figures reflect geological potential rather than proven, recoverable reserves. In Kazakhstan, as elsewhere, moving from estimate to production depends on depth, pressure, sulfur content, and the cost of drilling and processing. Large discoveries can take years to confirm commercially, particularly in high-pressure or technically complex formations. KazMunayGas has already begun exploration work. A well 5,750 meters deep has been drilled at the Karaton site, and five promising targets have been identified as part of a joint project with Tatneft. During testing at one of these sites, a gas flow containing hydrogen sulfide was recorded. The main challenge remains the depth of the deposits, which may reach up to 9 km. According to Iskaziyev, these conditions are comparable to projects undertaken by KazMunayGas’s Chinese partners, including Sinopec and China National Petroleum Corporation, where drilling depths can reach up to 11 km. The company plans to expand geological exploration into neighboring areas, including Kazhygali, and is negotiating subsoil use contracts. The timing is significant. Kazakhstan is under growing pressure to demonstrate that its oil sector can still deliver major new projects as existing fields mature. A large onshore discovery in Atyrau would reinforce the region’s role as the core of the country’s energy system and support efforts to sustain export volumes and investor interest. At the forum, a memorandum of understanding was also signed between KazMunayGas and BP on cooperation in geological exploration and the development of the Ustyurt Block in the Mangistau Region. The Times of Central Asia previously reported...

2 weeks ago