Page 58 – The Times Of Central Asia

28 Oct 2025

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Kazakhstan’s Horse Breeding Institute Set to Be Fully Operational by 2026

October 28, 2025
By Dmitry Pokidaev

The Research Institute of Horse Breeding in the Aktobe region of western Kazakhstan is expected to become fully operational in 2026. The institute aims to support national livestock breeding and safeguard Kazakhstan’s rich equestrian heritage.

The creation of the institute was first announced in the fall of 2024 during the inaugural Forum of Agricultural Workers. Its objectives include increasing the national horse population, advancing selective breeding of native breeds, and boosting the export of horse products.

The transformation of a former experimental station in Aktobe into a specialized scientific center marked the project’s practical launch. A new facility is currently under construction and will include five laboratories focused on genetic and breeding research. Completion is scheduled for May 2026.

“The main tasks of the institute are to develop exports of horse meat and milk (kumys), promote national sports and sport horse breeding, and create conditions for domestic jockeys to compete internationally,” said Alibek Bazargaliev, chairman of the Kazakh Horse Breeding and Feed Production Research Institute.

The institute’s infrastructure will feature a riding arena, stables, a veterinary station, research labs, and a racetrack, forming a base for research, breeding, and the training of industry professionals.

Although Kazakhstan’s horse population has grown, the share of purebred animals remains below 1%. Of the country’s 4.2 million horses, only about 40,000 belong to recognized breeding lines. This disparity was a driving factor behind the institute’s establishment.

Kazakhstan is home to several unique native breeds, including the Jabe, Adai, Kostanay, Kushum, and Imugaljar. The Jabe, considered the oldest, has been integral to nomadic life for millennia. It is known for its endurance and versatility, making it suitable for riding, labor, and the production of meat and milk.

In 2023, a new law was adopted to preserve domestic breeds. It facilitates the import of foreign sport horses for breeding purposes, increases funding for breeding programs, and provides compensation for producers’ costs.

Kazakhstan is also advancing efforts to restore rare species, including Przewalski’s horse, the Turanian tiger, and the snow leopard.

28 Oct 2025

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Japarov Pledges Energy Independence Within 2.5 Years

October 28, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

Kyrgyzstan will meet its domestic electricity needs during the winter months within the next two and a half years, President Sadyr Japarov announced during the inauguration of the Kara-Kul Hydropower Plant (HPP) on October 27. The shift will be made possible by the completion of nearly 40 new hydropower plants and a coal-fired power station at the Kara-Keche deposit.

“In two and a half years, we will no longer import electricity during winter. We will have enough domestically produced power,” Japarov stated, urging citizens to remain patient amid ongoing seasonal shortages.

Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibraev recently warned that the upcoming winter could be one of the most challenging in recent memory due to critically low water levels in the Toktogul Reservoir, which supplies around 40% of the country’s electricity.

Kyrgyzstan has long struggled with chronic electricity deficits in winter, as many households rely heavily on electric heating. In 2024, electricity consumption reached 18.3 billion kWh, an increase of 1.1 billion kWh from the previous year. To bridge the shortfall, Kyrgyzstan imported 3.6 billion kWh from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia. Additional volumes have been secured for the 2025-2026 winter period.

The newly commissioned Kara-Kul HPP, located on the Kara-Suu River in the southern Jalal-Abad region, is part of a broader national energy strategy. Built at a cost of $25 million, the facility has two generating units with a combined capacity of 18 MW and is expected to produce 104 million kWh annually, offsetting roughly 2.5% of the current winter shortfall.

Japarov emphasized that the project is one component of Kyrgyzstan’s drive for energy independence.

Preparations are also underway for the construction of the Kambarata-1 HPP, set to be the largest hydropower plant in both Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia. The plant will have an installed capacity of 1,860 MW and is expected to generate 5.6 billion kWh annually.

The Kambarata-1 project is being developed in cooperation with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, with technical and financial support from the European Union. During the Global Gateway Forum held in Brussels on October 9-10, Kyrgyz Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibraev met with regional counterparts and EU institutions.

Key outcomes from the forum included the signing of €900 million in Memoranda of Understanding between the EU, European Investment Bank (EIB), and the three Central Asian states. A feasibility study, co-financed by the EU and implemented by the World Bank, is also underway.

Additionally, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) signed MoUs with Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, and is considering an overall financing package of €1.3 billion to support the project.

28 Oct 2025

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Kazakhstan Authorities Deliberate Future of Lukoil Assets

October 28, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

Russian oil giant Lukoil has announced plans to divest its international assets, including subsidiaries, amid ongoing Western sanctions.

The company stated the sale is being conducted under a license issued by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which allows Lukoil to wind down its foreign operations in an orderly manner by November 21, 2025. An extension of this deadline may be requested.

“Review of applications from potential buyers has begun,” the company said in an official statement.

According to industry data, Lukoil currently holds stakes in several key Kazakh projects: 5% in Tengizchevroil (TCO), 13.5% in Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V., 50% in the Kalamkas-Khazar project (Kalamkas-Khazar Operating joint venture), 49.99% in Al-Farabi Operating (offshore exploration and production), and 12.5% in the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC).

While analysts suggest CPC operations are unlikely to be affected by U.S. restrictions, Kazakhstan may witness a significant redistribution of oil sector investments.

Despite this, Kazakh authorities remain cautious in making definitive assessments. Nurlan Zhakupov, head of the Samruk-Kazyna sovereign wealth fund, stated that discussions are ongoing with both domestic and international advisors regarding Lukoil’s shares in Kazakh ventures.

“A great deal of complex work is being carried out with relevant consultants, including international ones, on how KazMunayGas can navigate the current situation. Lukoil has major projects in Kazakhstan, so this is a complex and multifaceted issue,” Zhakupov said.

Deputy Minister of Energy Sanzhar Zharkeshov emphasized that any decisions regarding the acquisition of Lukoil’s shares fall under the purview of the national oil company KazMunayGas.

“Lukoil is KazMunayGas’s partner. They are jointly involved in Kalamkas, Khazar, and other projects. At this stage, the Ministry of Energy is not addressing the buyout or shareholder restructuring, this is a matter for KazMunayGas as an economic entity,” Zharkeshov said at a press conference.

Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov added that decisions on potential buyouts have not yet been made.

“This discussion has not yet taken place. The sanctions are still being analyzed, and their full impact on companies and the economy remains to be assessed. I believe a decision will be made soon, within the next few days, before the end of this week,” Akkenzhenov stated.

The Times of Central Asia has previously reported on the broader effects of U.S. and EU sanctions on economies across Central Asia.

28 Oct 2025

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Central Asia Loses 14 Million Tons of Crops Annually Due to Poor Storage Infrastructure

October 28, 2025
By Anton Chipegin

Each year, approximately 14 million tons of agricultural products are lost across Central Asia due to inadequate storage infrastructure, according to a recent analytical report from the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB).

In Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, so-called “dry warehouses” remain the norm. A significant share of produce is stored in facilities lacking the conditions necessary for long-term preservation. As a result, large volumes of crops spoil annually, especially during seasonal peaks.

The EDB notes that Eurasian countries are entering a new logistics phase. The rapid growth of e-commerce and retail expansion is generating unprecedented demand for modern warehouse infrastructure. According to the bank’s projections, total demand for warehouse space in the region will double by 2040, surpassing 120 million square meters.

Between 2020 and 2024, the region’s total warehouse space increased from 48 to 58 million square meters. Russia remains the dominant player, with around 53 million square meters of commercial and logistics space. Central Asian countries, however, continue to lag far behind.

Crop losses peak during the autumn harvest and spring sales of residual stock. During these times, buffer storage and efficient transport logistics are critical. Without these, “farmers are forced to sell surpluses at the lowest price or throw them away,” EDB analysts warn.

Experts identify the warehouse sector as a key driver of trade growth in Eurasia. Realizing this potential, however, will require coordinated action among governments, businesses, and international institutions. The report emphasizes the need for a unified institutional environment to enhance investment appeal and market transparency.

“The region, which has long remained on the periphery of global logistics flows, is now shaping a new map of Eurasian logistics. In the coming years, the market will remain highly dynamic: more than 20 million square meters of new warehouse space is planned for commissioning, including 1.6 million square meters in Central Asian countries,” the report states.

Kyrgyzstan serves as a case in point. In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, agriculture was the country’s only growing sector. Yet farmers struggled with oversupply, cabbage, in particular, had to be fed to livestock or discarded due to a lack of buyers and storage facilities. A similar situation unfolded with potatoes.

28 Oct 2025

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Tajik Border Guards Clash with Taliban Fighters Along Afghan Border

October 28, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

Armed clashes erupted between Tajik border guards and Taliban fighters on October 25 along the Tajik-Afghan frontier, according to local sources cited by the Afghan outlet 8 Subh. The confrontation reportedly occurred in the Davanga district of Shahr-e Buzurg, located in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province.

The dispute reportedly stemmed from disagreements over water diversion from the Amu Darya river, which serves as part of the natural boundary between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. The region is also home to Chinese-operated gold mining projects, further complicating the security landscape.

Sources on the ground reported casualties and injuries, although official figures have not yet been released. The Tajik government has not issued an official statement. In response to the incident, Taliban representatives in Badakhshan held a meeting with the province’s appointed governor, Ismail Ghaznawi.

This is not the first escalation in the area. On August 24, a shootout occurred near a Chinese-operated gold mining facility on the Afghan side of the border. That conflict was halted following emergency negotiations between the two sides, although accusations of harboring hostile groups persisted.

The latest incident comes just days after a Taliban delegation visited Dushanbe. Led by Balkh province’s Governor Yusuf Wafa, the delegation met with Tajikistan’s National Security Council Chairman Saimumin Yatimov and the Chairman of the Council of Ulemas, Saidmukarram Abdulkodirzoda.

Despite this diplomatic contact, Tajikistan remains the only Central Asian country that has not recognized the Taliban government. Dushanbe continues to call for the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan and the protection of human rights.

Nonetheless, limited trade and humanitarian engagement between the two countries persist. The Afghan embassy in Dushanbe is still headed by a diplomat appointed by the former government, while the Afghan consulate in Khorog is administered by a representative of the current Taliban-led administration. Tajikistan, in turn, maintains its embassy and consulate in Afghanistan.

28 Oct 2025

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Tokayev Awards Entrepreneurs and Workers as Kazakhstan Marks Republic Day

October 28, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan recently celebrated Republic Day. On this day 35 years ago, the country adopted the Declaration of Sovereignty, and in December 1991, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics disappeared from the world map. However, the state continues some Soviet traditions, including hosting events on the eve of public holidays. Grand concerts and lavish receptions are held with the participation of artists of various genres, and state awards are given to workers, farmers, and public sector employees. One of the innovations of the new era is the awarding of prizes to well-known businesspeople, which would have been unthinkable under the communist era.

On the eve of Republic Day, the head of Kazakhstan issued a decree honoring citizens who have made a significant contribution to the economic, cultural, and social development of the nation. Among them are many people well-known in the country, such as Shukhrat Ibragimov, who holds the position of CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Eurasian Resources Group; Vyacheslav Kim, who heads the board of directors of Kaspi; Tursengali Alaguzov, head of GALANZ Bottlers; Daniyar Abulgazin, investor and co-founder of the Qazaq Oil and SinoOil gas station chains; and Nurlan Smagulov, founder of Astana Group, which includes companies such as Astana Motors and the MEGA shopping and entertainment complexes.

Among the award winners were also Armanzhan Baitasov, the publisher of Forbes Kazakhstan; Farrukh Makhmudov, founder of the Orbis Kazakhstan; Kenes Rakishev, head of Fincraft Group; Oleg Novachuk, acting chairman of the board of directors of KAZ Minerals Ltd; Alexander Chukreev, an entrepreneur known for his beverage brands; and Saule Zhakayeva, chair of the board of Citibank Kazakhstan.

This routine procedure sends a signal to the business community that the state encourages successful businesses that bear the burden of social responsibility. Many of the award winners helped the country during the severe floods of 2024, when tens of thousands of people were left homeless, and are building museums, schools, and public buildings at their own expense.

In addition to businesspeople, this year, which Tokayev has declared the Year of Working Professions, was marked on the eve of Republic Day with state awards for 138 representatives of working dynasties, around 500 workers and laborers in industry, transport, construction, agriculture, and other sectors, about 200 representatives of small and medium-sized businesses, more than 130 teachers and scientists, over 100 medical workers and other citizens who have made a personal contribution to the development of the country through their daily work.