Page 511 – The Times Of Central Asia

04 Nov 2024

Central Asia, Tajikistan Justice, Tajikistan Local Politics, Tajikistan, Local Politics

More High Profile Detentions in Tajikistan’s Alleged Coup Case

November 4, 2024
By Vagit Ismailov

Two more people have been detained in Tajikistan as part of an alleged coup attempt case involving prominent figures in the country, Radio Ozodi has reported, citing an anonymous source. Official agencies have yet to confirm the information, and journalists have yet to be able to procure comments.

According to the source, the detainees include former GKNB (State Committee on National Security) officers Nuramin Ganizoda and Jamshed Boyev. Ganizoda, a retired colonel, was formerly an aide to former Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi and worked briefly in Tajikistan’s Audit Chamber. Boyev, known only as a retired captain, holds Russian citizenship and receives a pension there. Both were detained in June, shortly after Zarifi’s arrest.

Saidjafar Usmonzoda, former chairman of the Democratic Party and ex-member of parliament, has been detained in this high-profile case since June. Others involved include Akbarsho Iskandarov, former chairman of Tajikistan’s Supreme Soviet; Ahmadshokh Komilzoda, journalist and deputy chairman of the Democratic Party; Hamrokhon Zarifi; Shokirjon Hakimov, first deputy chairman of the Social Democratic Party; and Abdulfayz Atoi, former spokesperson for the Tajik Foreign Ministry.

The detainees face charges of attempted forcible seizure of power and incitement of inter-ethnic hatred. These charges carry significant prison sentences.

In August, Prosecutor General Yusuf Rakhmon said several other people were under investigation without revealing their names. The case was initially scheduled to go to the Supreme Court in September, but was returned for further investigation. It has not been possible to contact the detainees or their relatives – the case has been classified, and there are no official comments from the Prosecutor General’s Office.

04 Nov 2024

Home, International Affairs, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs

As Conflict Rages, Kazakhstan Evacuates Citizens from Lebanon

November 4, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Kazakhstan has evacuated several dozen Kazakh citizens and their family members from Lebanon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday. It cited “escalating tensions in the Middle East,” a reference to fighting between Israel and its Iran-backed enemies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon.

“This operation was organized through Istanbul and Dubai, resulting in the safe return of 41 people to Astana and Almaty from Beirut between October 17-31, 2024,” the ministry said in a statement.

“The evacuation was conducted to protect the rights and interests of citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan who were in the conflict zone,” it said.

Other countries have also organized evacuations of their citizens from Lebanon. Türkiye assisted in the air evacuations of more than 2,000 people from 21 countries, including Uzbekistan, Türkiye’s state Anadolu Agency reported last month.

Israeli air strikes have pounded parts of Lebanon and Israeli forces launched a ground incursion into southern Lebanon last month, a year after Hezbollah started firing rockets and other projectiles into Israel in support of Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza. The Hezbollah action was a show of solidarity with Hamas in the war that broke out after its Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

Iran, meanwhile, has directly threatened Israel with retaliation for Israeli air strikes on Iranian targets last month, the latest in a series of tit-for-tat attacks between the two adversaries. The United States said it was sending more military aircraft to the region to deter Iran.

04 Nov 2024

Central Asia, Uzbekistan, International Affairs, Local Politics, Business & Economy, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Uzbekistan International Affairs

Russia’s Zakharova: Gas Deliveries to Uzbekistan Surpass Five Billion Cubic Meters

November 4, 2024
By Sadokat Jalolova

According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Russian gas supplies to Uzbekistan, which started in October 2023, have now surpassed five billion cubic meters. She noted that in 2023, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan initiated a two-year agreement to deliver Russian gas through Kazakhstan via a contract between Gazprom and UzGasTrade.

“As of today, the volume of gas supplies has exceeded five billion cubic meters. Russian companies Gazprom and LUKOIL are advancing multiple projects to develop gas fields within Uzbekistan. The parties are set on gradually expanding their cooperation in the gas sector. There are, in fact, no bilateral issues that might slow down this energy partnership,” Zakharova shared at a recent briefing.

She added that “all matters are being addressed constructively, with energy discussions being a regular part of high-level and interdepartmental negotiations.” This year, key meetings featured talks on energy cooperation, including Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit from May 26-28 and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s visit on September 9-10.

“Energy collaboration is a core component of our bilateral relationship, with our foreign policy departments maintaining close contact and offering the needed political and diplomatic support to keep this cooperation moving forward,” Zakharova highlighted.

04 Nov 2024

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

Kazakhstan and China Begin Negotiations on Joint Use of Transboundary Rivers

November 4, 2024
By Sergey Kwan

On November 1, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov met with Zhang Xiao, the Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan, to discuss bilateral water cooperation and the joint use and distribution of water from transboundary rivers.

Three large rivers in Kazakhstan — the Ertis, the Ile, and the Emel — originate in China.

The two countries established a special working group of experts to negotiate the provision of water to the Ile-Balkhash basin and develop fisheries and tourism in the region.

The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan intends to sign a memorandum of cooperation with the Ministry of Water Resources of China shortly.

The Kazakh minister and Chinese ambassador discussed joint modernization and automation of Kazakhstan’s water infrastructure, production and use of water-saving technologies, and advanced training of Kazakhstani water specialists in China.

Late in August, The Times of Central Asia reported that the Kapchagay reservoir outside Almaty was full for the first time in ten years.

The reservoir collects water from the Ile (or Ili) River, which originates in China and is meant to regulate the river’s flow on its way to Kazakhstan’s largest lake, Balkhash.

04 Nov 2024

Central Asia, Environment, Uzbekistan Environment, Uzbekistan, International Affairs, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Business & Economy, Uzbekistan International Affairs

EBRD and EU Support Solar Power Project in Uzbekistan

November 4, 2024
By Sergey Kwan

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing funds to construct a solar power plant in Uzbekistan’s Khorezm region.

The EBRD’s financial package of up to $54.6 million (€50.5 million) will be provided to Sarimay Solar, a special-purpose company fully owned by Voltalia, an international energy producer and service provider based in France. The package will consist of a senior loan of up to $44.8 million (€41.5 million) and a special facility of €9 million, which will support Sarimay Solar during construction.

The project will benefit from an unfunded guarantee covering a senior loan tranche of $7 million (€6.5 million) provided by the European Union’s European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus.

The financing will help Sarimay Solar construct and operate a 100 MWac (126MWdc) greenfield solar photovoltaic plant, contributing to Uzbekistan’s aim of further decreasing its reliance on carbon-intensive thermal power generation and developing up to 25 GW of solar and wind capacity by 2030.

Once operational, the plant is expected to generate up to 252 GWh of electricity yearly and reduce annual CO2 emissions by more than 141,000 tons.

For the fourth year in a row, Uzbekistan has been the leading recipient of EBRD funding in Central Asia. The Bank has invested around €4.9 billion in 167 projects across the country, most of which support private entrepreneurship.

04 Nov 2024

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

First-Ever Tungsten Production Launched in Kazakhstan

November 4, 2024
By Sergey Kwan

On November 1, Kazakhstan’s first tungsten processing plant was opened in the Almaty region. According to the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Construction, this will strengthen the country’s position in the global rare earth metals market.

The $300 million project will create up to 1,000 local jobs and, when fully operational, will process 3.3 million tons of ore annually, producing 65% tungsten concentrate.

Jiaxin International Resources Investment Ltd. is implementing the project, which was joined by Jiangxi Copper Corporation, China Railway Construction Company, China Civil Engineering Construction Company, and Ever Trillion International Singapore PTE LTD.

Further plans include constructing a $150 million deep processing facility to increase tungsten content to 88.5% and produce high-purity tungsten carbide.

Tungsten has the highest melting point of all metals and is alloyed with other metals to strengthen them. Tungsten and its alloys are used in many high-temperature applications, such as arc-welding electrodes and heating elements in high-temperature furnaces. Tungsten carbide is tough and important to the metal-working, mining, and petroleum industries.

Speaking at the 36th meeting of the Foreign Investors’ Council in Astana on October 31, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized that Kazakhstan has a unique mineral resource base and has attracted more than $1 billion of private investment in geological exploration over the past six years.