Page 365 – The Times Of Central Asia

26 Feb 2025

Central Asia, Environment, Kazakhstan Environment, Home, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan Environment, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees, Kazakhstan Home

Caspian Sea Shrinking Faster Than Expected, Risking Aral Sea-Like Disaster

February 26, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

The Caspian Sea is shoaling at an alarming rate, raising concerns among environmentalists in the countries that border it. According to the global movement Save The Caspian Sea, the sea level has dropped by two meters over the past 18 years. If this trend continues, the water level could fall by another 18 meters by 2100, triggering an ecological catastrophe much sooner than anticipated.

Kazakh Coastlines Recede by 50 Kilometers

The most dramatic retreat of the Caspian shoreline has been recorded along the Kazakh coast, where the sea has receded by 50 kilometers.

Environmental activist Vadim Ni, founder of Save The Caspian Sea, reports that from 2005 to 2023, the sea’s surface area has shrunk by more than 30,000 square kilometers. This drastic change is devastating local ecosystems, particularly the Caspian seal population, which has declined from one million to just 70,000. Each year, thousands of dead seals are found along Kazakhstan’s coastline.

Shipping and Oil Production at Risk

Falling water levels are also disrupting shipping and trade in the Caspian Sea. Cargo ships can no longer enter the port of Aktau, a critical hub in the Trans-Caspian transport corridor that connects Kazakhstan with Azerbaijan.

The Kazakh government has developed a dredging project to keep Aktau operational, with plans approved in December 2024. The project is expected to cost 42 billion tenge ($84 million).

Additionally, the shoaling of the Caspian Sea is limiting the loading capacity of transport ships to just 75% of their maximum displacement. This also hinders access to the Kashagan oil field, one of Kazakhstan’s largest energy projects.

The Caspian Sea as seen from space; image: NASA

Ecologists Warn of Aral Sea-Like Collapse

Russian ecologist Alexander Veselov has warned that the Caspian Sea could face the same fate as the Aral Sea, which virtually disappeared due to overuse and mismanagement.

“The Caspian Sea may split into several parts, water quality will deteriorate, leading to mass deaths of swans, sturgeons, and seals. However, state authorities are failing to respond adequately to the crisis,” Veselov said.

Impact on Climate and Regional Weather

The Caspian Sea plays a crucial role in regulating the climate across Central Asia and beyond.

Pyotr Zavyalov, deputy director of the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology at the Russian Academy of Sciences, warns that a continued drop in sea level could alter precipitation patterns as far as the Pacific region.

The current average sea level of the Caspian stands at minus 29.5 meters relative to the World Ocean, the lowest point in 400 years.

However, precise long-term predictions remain difficult due to the complex interactions of evaporation, river runoff, and precipitation.

Volga River and Algae Threaten Caspian’s Future

The Volga River, which supplies 90% of the Caspian’s water, has seen its flow dramatically reduced due to the construction of numerous dams in recent years.

Meanwhile, scientists have recorded the spread of the dinophyte algae Ceratium tripos var. balticum in the Middle Caspian Sea. This invasive species can trigger harmful algal blooms, reducing oxygen levels and further endangering marine life.

With sea levels plummeting, ecosystems collapsing, and key industries under threat, experts are urging urgent international action to prevent the Caspian Sea from becoming the next Aral Sea. Whether governments in the region will act swiftly and decisively remains to be seen.

26 Feb 2025

Central Asia, Home, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan Local Politics, Uzbekistan Features, Local Politics, Kazakhstan, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees, Uzbekistan Local Politics, Kazakhstan Home

Powering the Future: Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Race to Tackle Energy Crises with Nuclear Plans

June 16, 2025
By Aliya Haidar

Kazakhstan has officially designated the site for its first nuclear power plant (NPP), while Uzbekistan has also identified a location and announced plans to establish an international consortium. Despite severe power shortages in densely populated regions, concrete timelines for construction remain unclear.

Kazakhstan Finalizes NPP Site Selection

On February 25, Kazakhstan formally approved the construction site for its first NPP. A decree signed by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov designated the Zhambyl district in the Almaty region as the site for the facility.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reiterated in January 2025 that Kazakhstan would likely require multiple nuclear power plants, and urged the government to accelerate the construction process.

International Consortium Considered for Construction

Kazakhstan has yet to finalize its choice of technology and contractor. In 2024, Tokayev stated that multiple foreign companies should collaborate on the project through an international consortium. Tokayev emphasized the need for cutting-edge technology from global players.

Several companies and technologies are currently under consideration, including:

CNNC (China) – HPR-1000 reactor
Rosatom (Russia) – VVER-1200 reactor
KHNP (South Korea) – APR-1000, APR-1400 reactors
EDF (France) – EPR1200 reactor.

Political analyst Gaziz Abishev noted that the selection of locations and contractors reflects Kazakhstan’s multi-vector foreign policy. Abishev suggested that Kazakhstan could ultimately build three NPPs, potentially awarding contracts to Rosatom, a Chinese-French consortium, and a South Korean firm.

While Rosatom remains the frontrunner, only preliminary agreements with Russia have been reported so far.

Urgency Amidst a Growing Energy Deficit

Kazakhstan faces an urgent need to begin NPP construction due to its increasing electricity shortfall. In 2024, electricity consumption reached 120.6 billion kWh, while production stood at 118.3 billion kWh, resulting in a 2.4 billion kWh deficit. By 2025, the deficit is projected to rise to 3.3 billion kWh.

The situation is particularly dire in southern Kazakhstan, where demand far exceeds supply. The region consumes 27.7 billion kWh but produces only 15.3 billion kWh, creating a 12.4 billion kWh deficit. As a result, Kazakhstan is heavily reliant on Russian electricity imports.

Aging infrastructure exacerbates the crisis. In the winters of 2023-2024, power plant failures left residents in the towns of Ridder and Ekibastuz without heat during extreme subzero temperatures. The government reports that 66% of CHPP equipment is worn out, with five major plants, in Uralsk, Stepnogorsk, Taraz, Kyzylorda, and Kentau, operating with over 80% wear and tear. The average age of CHPPs in Kazakhstan is 61 years, with 76% of plants exceeding 50 years of operation.

Experts argue that Kazakhstan cannot achieve energy independence without nuclear power. The energy deficit will continue to grow, particularly in Almaty, the country’s largest city, which is at risk of blackouts and rolling outages.

Uzbekistan Moves Forward with Its First NPP

Uzbekistan is also advancing its nuclear energy plans. The first NPP will be built in the Jizzakh region, approximately 1,000 km from Kazakhstan’s planned plant.

In May 2024, Uzatom signed a contract with Atomstroyexport, a division of Rosatom, for the construction of a 330 MW low-capacity nuclear plant consisting of six 55 MW reactors.

In February 2025, Uzbekistan announced the formation of an international consortium to construct additional NPPs. The head of Uzatom, Azim Akhmedkhajayev, stated that the project would incorporate Russian nuclear technologies along with Chinese, European, and U.S. software and hardware.

U.S. Interest in Uzbekistan’s Nuclear Sector

The United States has also expressed interest in Uzbekistan’s nuclear energy development. In February 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed nuclear investment and critical mineral cooperation with Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov.

A U.S. State Department statement indicated that Washington is seeking to collaborate with Uzbekistan on investment opportunities in civilian nuclear energy technologies.

Uncertainties Remain

While both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have identified sites for their NPPs, major uncertainties remain regarding financing, contractor selection, and construction timelines. However, with worsening energy shortages, pressure is mounting on both governments to accelerate the process.

26 Feb 2025

Central Asia, Home, Kyrgyzstan, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Features, Kazakhstan Home, Kyrgyzstan Home

Kazakhstan to Help Build Small Hydropower Plants in Kyrgyzstan

February 26, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

The energy ministries of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have signed a roadmap for the construction of small hydropower plants (HPPs) in Kyrgyzstan.

The agreement, signed on February 25 during a visit by the Chairman of Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers, Adylbek Kasymaliyev, to Kazakhstan, aims to enhance energy cooperation between the two nations, and support Kyrgyzstan’s efforts to develop its hydropower potential.

Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister, Almasadam Satkaliyev, emphasized Kazakhstan’s commitment to regional cooperation in the energy sector.

“We consider this a guarantee of stability and prosperity for all of Central Asia. The signing of the roadmap with Kyrgyzstan is further proof of our commitment to this goal. We are ready to share our experience and resources to build an energy-independent future together,” he said.

In recent years, Kyrgyzstan has intensified its efforts to boost electricity generation and address chronic power shortages by modernizing existing and constructing new hydropower plants.

One of the largest ongoing projects is Kambarata-1, a joint initiative involving Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Kambarata-1, once completed, will be the largest hydropower plant in Kyrgyzstan. The project is expected to enhance regional cooperation in water and energy resource management.

Discussions on the progress of Kambarata-1 are ongoing, involving Central Asian countries and the World Bank.

The Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan hydropower cooperation marks another step toward strengthening Central Asia’s energy infrastructure. With Kazakhstan’s expertise and resources, Kyrgyzstan is expected to make significant progress in achieving energy security and sustainability.

26 Feb 2025

Home, Justice, Kazakhstan Justice, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

Kazakh Activists Slam PACE Member’s Allegations

March 19, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

Kazakh civil activists have strongly criticized a written declaration signed by 20 of the 306 members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), labeling it a “defamatory document.” Their response, representing various non-governmental organizations and public associations across Kazakhstan, accuses PACE signatories of bias, double standards, and a lack of objectivity in its assessment of human rights and democratic practices in the country.

The contentious declaration, published on the PACE website on February 5, 2025, alleges that Kazakhstan has imprisoned eight political dissidents and is repressing another five individuals living abroad. However, Kazakh civil society representatives argue that these claims are misleading and politically motivated.

A key point of contention is the alleged connection between the individuals named in the declaration and Mukhtar Ablyazov, a notorious figure accused of embezzling $8-10 billion during his tenure as chairman of BTA Bank. Ablyazov has been the subject of multiple legal judgments in the UK and US, with liabilities exceeding $5 billion, including two jury trial verdicts in the Southern District of New York in 2022 and 2024 with regard to the laundering of the stolen funds. The activists assert that the individuals referenced in the PACE declaration are not political prisoners but rather individuals convicted of ordinary criminal offenses.

In their February 24 response, the Kazakh civil society representatives expressed concern over what they perceive as an attempt by certain PACE members to “militarize” Europe’s democratic agenda against Kazakhstan. “We are deeply concerned about how individual PACE representatives are attempting to ‘militarize’ Europe’s democratic agenda in relation to Kazakhstan,” the statement reads. “We have every reason to believe that the authority of PACE is being actively used by criminal elements to advance their interests – among whom we include Mukhtar Ablyazov and his supporters.”

While the PACE declaration called for an investigation into Kazakhstan, the civil activists countered by urging European law enforcement agencies to investigate potential abuses of office by PACE representatives. They accused PACE of turning a blind eye to systemic corruption, such as the “Qatargate” scandal, and questioned whether connections between those implicated in “Qatargate” and individuals shaping PACE’s stance on Kazakhstan are fueling a biased agenda.

According to its website, the National Endowment for Prosperity is an “organization dedicated to the protection of human rights, strengthening democracy and developing civil society, implementing a wide range of projects and initiatives in these areas.”

The rebuttal, titled “Response of representatives of civil society of Kazakhstan to the declaration of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,” was signed by 20 prominent figures from Kazakh civil society. These include Marlen Imangaliyev from the “Veterans of military operations who took part in the settlement of the interethnic conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh in the Caucasus region” public association; Usen Suleimen and Marat Sarsembayev from the “National Endowment for Prosperity”; Salamat Kabidayev from the “Eurasian Peace and Accord” institution; and Dauyl Togzhan from the “Alash Ulandary” public foundation.

The response underscores the activists’ belief that the actions of these 20 PACE members are undermining the institution’s credibility and objectivity. They argue that Kazakhstan is making significant strides in democratic reforms, including strengthening human rights mechanisms and judicial independence, and that the allegations fail to reflect these developments. The activists call for greater transparency and fairness in PACE’s processes, warning that its current approach risks eroding trust in the institution.

25 Feb 2025

Home, International Affairs, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

A Central Asian Perspective: Look Out for Ourselves as World Shifts

February 25, 2025
By Times of Central Asia

Kazakhstan must focus on its own interests at a time of uncertainty over the Trump administration’s global relations and alliances as well as pending appointments to key U.S. diplomatic posts for Central Asia, according to the head of a non-governmental group based in Almaty.

The comments by Karla Jamankulova, head of the free speech group Adil Soz, reflect a wider sense of vigilance in Central Asia. The region’s governments are monitoring and engaging Washington as the new U.S. administration moves to implement major, even stunning policy shifts, including warnings of tariffs on key trading partners, disruption of the longstanding U.S.-Europe alliance and a possible rapprochement with Russia after years of hostility.

It’s a critical time for Central Asian states that have generally sought to balance their relationships with big powers since independence from the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, rather than side with any one faction at the expense of another.

The war in Ukraine put that approach to the test as those countries did not express support for Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 but maintained vital trade ties with it even as the West tried to isolate Moscow with economic sanctions. President Donald Trump has significantly shifted U.S. priorities, prompting other nations to reassess their own geopolitical strategies.

“Given the current uncertainty surrounding U.S.-Russia economic relations and the increasingly anti-China stance, it is now crucial to understand the contours of U.S.-Kazakhstan relations moving forward,” Jamankulova said on Facebook on Tuesday.

Her NGO has received funding for projects from the U.S. Embassy in the past, though such support appears to have ended since the Trump administration announced a freeze on nearly all foreign aid and took steps to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development. Jamankulova didn’t comment on a debate within Kazakhstan about whether such foreign funding benefits civil society, or is a tool of interference by foreign governments, or both. Nor did she talk about whether there might be differing views within Kazakhstan about national interests.

There are positive signs for Kazakhstan, specifically indications that the Trump administration would support bipartisan efforts to scrap the Jackson-Vanik amendment, a 50-year-old law that imposes some restrictions on trade with several countries in Central Asia. During his confirmation hearings for the post of secretary of state in January, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio described the amendment as “a relic of an era that’s passed.”

As secretary of state, Rubio spoke by telephone on Feb. 21 to Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov of Uzbekistan about increasing trade and expanding the strategic partnership between the two countries, according to an Uzbek readout. The U.S. State Department made similar comments.

In her Facebook post, Jamankulova said she was unaware of any similar discussions involving Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu of Kazakhstan, though acknowledged that doesn’t necessarily mean there is a shift in U.S. priorities.

“The Atlantic Council has long advocated for Trump to be the first U.S. president to visit Central Asia. Kazakhstan appears to be on the radar. At the last C5+1 summit in 2023, it was agreed that the next high-level meeting would take place in Astana in 2025. Additionally, President Tokayev reportedly spoke with President-elect Trump in December last year,” Jamankulova said.

The NGO chief expressed concern that there is currently no U.S. ambassador in Kazakhstan. The highest-ranking diplomat is Deborah Robinson, the chargé d’affaires with experience in Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan who arrived in Astana last year.

Another pending U.S. appointment is that of assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs, whose portfolio includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Trump has nominated South Asian security expert Paul Kapur, who is viewed by some analysts as a proponent of developing closer ties with India as a counterweight to China.

Amid the global maneuvers, Jamankulova warned: “As history has shown, no one will look out for us — except ourselves.”

25 Feb 2025

Central Asia, Home, Tajikistan International Affairs, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan International Affairs, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan Features, International Affairs, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan Home, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan Features, Kazakhstan Featurees, Uzbekistan International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan Home, Kazakhstan Home

Eduards Stiprais Appointed New EU Special Representative for Central Asia

February 25, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

The Council of the European Union has appointed Eduards Stiprais as the new EU Special Representative for Central Asia. Stiprais will assume his duties on March 1, 2025, with an initial two-year mandate, succeeding Terhi Hakala.

According to the European Council, Stiprais will be responsible for promoting EU-Central Asia relations based on shared values, strengthening regional stability and cooperation, and supporting democracy, the rule of law, good governance, and human rights.

A seasoned Latvian diplomat, Stiprais previously served as Latvia’s Permanent Representative to the EU and as Deputy State Secretary – Political Director at the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2016 to 2020, he was Head of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan and has also served as Latvia’s ambassador to the United Kingdom and France.

The European Council recently announced that the first-ever EU-Central Asia summit will be held in Uzbekistan on April 3-4. The summit will be attended by European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

As EU-Central Asia relations gain strategic significance, the upcoming summit presents a key opportunity for the EU to deepen its engagement in the region. The European Council stated that discussions will focus on enhancing cooperation in transport and digital connectivity, critical raw materials, economic and security collaboration, and energy transition.

The EU adopted a new Strategy on Central Asia in 2019. The EU remains Central Asia’s second-largest trading partner and the leading investor, accounting for over 40% of foreign investment in the region.