Page 1028 – The Times Of Central Asia

31 Jan 2024

Central Asia, Kazakhstan Justice, Kazakhstan, Features

What Awaits the Media in Kazakhstan: Changes to the Draft Law on Mass Media

September 25, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Radio Azattyk, one of the editorial offices of the U.S.Congress-financed media organization Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), has sued the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan for denial of accreditation. The case was transferred to the specialized district court of Astana. At the beginning of this year, 36 employees of the editorial office were not accredited. According to the government agency, the reason was due to fines and charges which the editorial staff incurred for spreading false information in previous publications.

The lawsuit has coincided with the discussion of changes to the Law on the Mass Media in Kazakhstan. Rumors began to spread quickly on social networks and in some publications that the country was expected to significantly restrict the rights of media representatives.

Member of the Mazhilis, Nikita Shatalov described in a post on social media the updates that are intended for the law “On Mass Media,” stating that he intends to refute inaccurate information that has been leaked to the media. According to Shatalov, a ban on foreign media isn’t expected. The ban will apply only to those publications that work without accreditation. The only new point that will be introduced is the possibility of denial of accreditation in cases of a possible threat to national security emanating from a particular publication.

Shatalov specified that this rule is based on the law “On National Security,” which provides clear guidelines by which the presence or absence of a threat will be determined. This rule will be applied only to those foreign media which in some way or other have called for a violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, or exacerbated unrest or security threats in the country.

The law will give foreign publications the opportunity to challenge the decision to refuse accreditation in court.

31 Jan 2024

Central Asia, Uzbekistan, Life & Culture, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Uzbekistan Local Politics

Pilot Public-Private Partnership Project to Modernize Power Distribution System

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) will help launch a project to rehabilitate, modernize and operate the outdated electricity distribution system in Samarkand using a public-private partnership. A local distribution system operator has been selected as the platform for the pilot project. Expansion of the project across the entire country is being considered in the future.

The Uzbek economy is one of the most energy-intensive economies in the world. On average, it consumes three times more energy for the same unit of GDP than other European and Central Asian countries. Uzbekistan’s outdated electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure leads to high losses across the power grid. Modernization and digitization of transmission and distribution systems will also enable the introduction of more green energy-generation capacity. This is especially relevant for renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, as flexible smart systems can more easily adapt to their variable output.

Public-private partnership projects have in recent years become increasingly in demand in Uzbekistan. The plan is to implement such initiatives worth $14 billion by 2026. This will cover half of the country’s investment needs. With the help of foreign investment, Uzbekistan intends to develop its transportation, energy, agriculture, and social-services infrastructure.

30 Jan 2024

Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan, Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy, Features

Will Construction Of Kyrgyzstan’s “Chinese Railroad” Start This Year?

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railroad construction project is the largest project in Kyrgyzstan’s transport sector, according to the authorities in Kyrgyzstan, and its implementation will help realize the transit potential of the republic while connecting it with the countries of southeast Asia.

The new railroad will be important not only for the three named countries through which it will pass; it will also shorten the route from East Asia to the Middle East and Southern Europe. The total length of the Kyrgyz branch will be 280 kilometers.

It’s worth noting that Beijing developed a feasibility study for this project back in the early 2000s, whereby the route was first determined. The Chinese study proposed building a shorter route across the territory of Kyrgyzstan, which would have been about 250 kilometers long. But the authorities in Kyrgyzstan at the time proposed lengthening the route by over 100 kilometers in order to add more villages to the route, thereby securing access to the economic benefits of the railroad for more citizens.

For the longest time, authorities in the three countries couldn’t agree on which gauge to set. This hinged on the fact that China, Turkey and Iran are building using the European gauge of 1.435mm, while Central Asian countries use the Russian standard of 1.620mm. As a result, the parties decided on a so-called transition from one gauge to the other. According to some reports, this transition will be located in Kyrgyzstan in the village of Kazarman. China will build its part of the railroad line to this settlement on its own. Financing for the Kyrgyz part of the railroad will be determined by the authorities in Kyrgyzstan in concert with their counterparts in Uzbekistan and other investors. The project’s cost is estimated at $4.7 billion.

In the future, Kyrgyzstan plans to connect the new route with the northern part of the railroad in order to re-export Chinese goods to Russia.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping recently hosted President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan on a state visit to Beijing, where the two leaders discussed the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railroad, among other economic issues. In a conversation with his Uzbek counterpart, Xi Jinping noted that the countries should speed up negotiations and start construction of the railroad as soon as possible, which is a key component of China’s “One Belt, One Road” mega-project.

30 Jan 2024

Central Asia, Turkmenistan Environment

Forest Nurseries Created In Turkmenistan

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Two forest nurseries have been created in Turkmenistan’s Kopetdag State Reserve. One of the nurseries, two hectares in size, is located in the Kopetdag Mountains; the other, smaller site is in the Gyavers oasis area near the Karakum desert. The trees were planted as part of a joint ecology project between the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization and the Turkmen Ministry of Environment.

The young forests will eventually contribute to restoring Turkmenistan’s forest resources, which is an important part of the country’s efforts to make its industrial sectors more sustainable.

Forest nurseries grow and breed saplings and trees, as well as forest plants. The nurseries in Kopetdag and by the Karakum will also house nut and berry orchards, where pistachio, almond, hawthorn, blackberry, and cherry trees will be grown.

Expanding forested areas in mountainous parts of Turkmenistan is an effective way to reduce the impact of water erosion and prevent dangerous mudflows. It is also an important step in conserving biodiversity and preserving unique ecosystems.

Forest nurseries additionally contribute to improving yields from agricultural pastures, which in turn improves the welfare of local farmers.

30 Jan 2024

Central Asia, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

China’s Sinopec To Join Polyethylene Project In Kazakhstan

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

The China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, Sinopec, will become part of a large polyethylene project in Kazakhstan. This was announced on January 29th by the chairman of Kazakhstan’s national oil and gas company KazMunayGas, Magzum Mirzagaliyev, and Sinopec’s president Yu Baocai, during a meeting in China.

The project will begin with the construction of a polyethylene production plant with a capacity of 1.25 million tons per year in the special economic zone in Karabatan, close to the Tengiz field in western Kazakhstan. The plant will produce a wide range of products, including premium high-density polyethylene, which is in constant high demand throughout the world.

The plant will help maintain social stability in the region. About 8,000 jobs will be created during the construction phase, and about 850 permanent jobs will be created during the operation period.

“This year we expect the final investment decision to be made, which will be the starting point for moving to an important stage — the start of construction,” Mr Mirzagaliyev commented.

To date, license agreements for the use of technologies have been signed with Chevron Phillips Chemical and Univation Technologies, world leaders in this field.

30 Jan 2024

Central Asia, International Affairs, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakhstan Could Become Main Transport Link Between Europe And Asia

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Addressing the Global Gateway Investors Forum for EU-Central Asia Transport Connectivity on January 29th in Brussels, Belgium, Kazakhstan’s transport minister Marat Karabaev proposed Kazakhstan as the most sustainable main transport route between Europe and Asia.

Mr Karabaev said that in the next five years Kazakhstan intends to attract investments worth €40bn ($43.3bn) in major transport infrastructure projects.

During this period Kazakhstan plans to reconstruct transit corridors with a length of 4,700km and repair the roads that form the basis of the Trans Caspian Transport Corridor. “To implement these projects we propose raising funds within the framework of the EU’s Global Gateway initiative and invite European contractors to take part in the construction of roads in Kazakhstan,” Mr Karabaev said.

Kazakhstan will construct 1,300km of new railway lines and modernize the existing infrastructure. This work is also aimed at increasing the transport capacity between Asia and the European Union.

It is also planned to transfer 22 airports in Kazakhstan to the management of investors.

To strengthen Kazakhstan’s Caspian fleet and create a container hub in the port of Aktau, investors are offered 171 hectares for the construction of terminal facilities. It is possible to transfer the seaports of Aktau and Kuryk to trust management on ship-or-pay terms, the minister said.