Page 632 – The Times Of Central Asia

23 Jul 2024

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

Saudi and Chinese Companies to Cooperate on Wind Power Projects in Uzbekistan

July 23, 2024
By Sadokat Jalolova

The Saudi company ACWA Power has announced that it has sold 35% of its stake in two wind power plants in Uzbekistan to China Southern Power Grid International. The Bash and Dzhankeldy plants in the Bukhara region are currently under construction.

The deal is the first joint investment project between ACWA Power and China Southern Power Grid International in renewable energy sources in Central Asia. The cost of building the two wind power plants, which have a total capacity of 1 GW, is $1.3 billion. The agreement was signed on July 17 by Uzbekistan’s Minister of Energy, Jorabek Mirzamahmudov. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

In December 2022, ACWA Power signed agreements with Chinese partners to finance, invest in, and build renewable energy projects in Saudi Arabia and ACWA Power’s Belt and Road Initiative countries.

The Times of Central Asia has previously reported on projects being implemented by ACWA Power in Uzbekistan.

23 Jul 2024

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

Uzbekistan Sends Almost 4 Billion Cubic Meters of Irrigation Water to Kazakhstan

July 23, 2024
By Sergey Kwan

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has announced that since the beginning of this year’s irrigation season on April 1, Uzbekistan has sent 3.9 billion cubic meters of water to Kazakhstan via the Syrdarya River.

Earlier, the ministry came to an agreement with Uzbekistan that 3.7 billion cubic meters of water would be sent to Kazakhstan via the Syrdarya River over six months.

It is expected that before the end of the irrigation season, Uzbekistan will send Kazakhstan an additional one billion cubic meters of water. This water is intended for farmers in the southern regions of Kazakhstan.

Water from Uzbekistan is accumulated in the Shardara reservoir, which currently contains 2.6 billion cubic meters, 689 million cubic meters more than a year ago.

A total of 3.6 billion cubic meters of water has been sent from the Shardara reservoir to the lower reaches of the Syrdarya River, 950 million cubic meters more than last year. More than 700 million cubic meters of that water was sent to the Kyzylkum canal and more than 400 million cubic meters to the North Aral Sea.

22 Jul 2024

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

Tajikistan Launches Export of Mineral Fertilizers to Afghanistan

July 22, 2024
By Sadokat Jalolova

Tajikistan has begun to export mineral fertilizers to Afghanistan. It has recently delivered 626 tons of fertilizer produced at the Azot plant in the Khatlon region, valued at $169,000.

According to information issued by the regional customs department, 13,700 tons of agricultural products were exported through the Khatlon checkpoint at the beginning of July, including 8.7 tons of onions, 438 tons of melons, 2.7 tons of fruit and grapes, and 120 tons of other products. In addition, 13,200 tons of onions were exported through customs checkpoints in the Sughd region, bringing the total volume of agricultural products exported by the Khatlon region to 27,100 tons. The value of imported goods to the Khatlon region amounted to $107.6 million.

Such a significant growth in trade relations with Afghanistan points to closening relations between Tajikistan and its neighbor.

22 Jul 2024

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

U.S. to Assist Kazakhstan in Rare Metals Exploration

January 8, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

In Astana on July 18, the U.S. Department of State and Department of Energy, in coordination with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Energy, held the 2024 U.S.-Kazakhstan Strategic Energy Dialogue.

The U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan reported that the Dialogue deepened cooperation between Kazakhstan and the United States on the shared priorities of enhancing energy security, accelerating the clean energy transition and methane mitigation, and developing Kazakhstan’s critical minerals sector.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Kimberly Harrington from the Department of State’s Bureau of Energy Resources and Deputy Assistant Secretary Joshua Volz from the Department of Energy’s Office of International Affairs co-led the U.S. delegation. U.S. and Kazakh energy and international affairs experts discussed the current progress and plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sustainably mine and refine critical materials. They also discussed civil nuclear cooperation, renewable energy sources, energy security, and global nuclear security.

The U.S. Department of State also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kazakh National Geological Service and National Mining Company Tau-Ken Samruk to expand and diversify the supply chains of critical minerals.

According to the National Geological Service, the main goal of the memorandum of cooperation is to explore the promising regions of Kyzylorda and East Kazakhstan to extract rare metals. With this memorandum, the U.S. Department of State will support Kazakhstan in financing geological exploration and providing technical expertise for these projects.

22 Jul 2024

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

Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan Plan New Railway Line

July 22, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

On July 20, government representatives from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan gathered in Aktau, Kazakhstan, to discuss the construction of a new railway line running from the Turkmenistan border through Afghanistan to Pakistan via Turgundi—Herat—Kandahar—Spin Buldak,

The joint implementation of the project was proposed by head of the Agency for Transport and Communications of Turkmenistan, Mammetkhan Chakyev, who also announced that Turkmenistan and the Afghan side had already agreed to create a logistics centre in Turgundi, a border town in northern Herat Province of Afghanistan. Construction is due to commence shortly and once in operation, will provide facilities for the transhipment of grain, rail containers, and other cargo.

Kazakhstan’s invitation to participate in the project rests on its production of high-quality railway tracks and as stated by Chakyev, “Turgundi-Herat is not only the construction of a railway but also the further development of freight traffic and the attraction of goods in this direction. With the participation of the Kazakh side, we can significantly increase the attractiveness of this corridor.”

Afghan representatives stating their readiness to forward the transport of goods from Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to Pakistan, highlighted the effectiveness of the route for all concerned as well as the benefits it afforded to importing Chinese goods through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin announced his support for Turkmenistan’s proposal for the joint construction of the new railway route and its provision of a western corridor from Afghanistan to Pakistan and India.

22 Jul 2024

Central Asia, Home, Kazakhstan Supplementary Stories, Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan

Mark Cavendish, British Cyclist from Astana Qazaqstan Team, Takes Record Stage Win

July 22, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

British cyclist Mark Cavendish made history at this year’s Tour de France, which he was said was probably his last race. Cavendish, currently riding for the Astana Qazaqstan Team, set the record for winning the most career stages (35) at cycling’s biggest event.

The tour ended Sunday with Slovenian Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates as the overall winner. But Cavendish’s record-breaking performance was one of the main story lines of the 2024 Tour de France, which broke with tradition and ended in Nice because the usual finishing area, in or near Paris, is preparing for the Olympics (July 26-Aug. 11).

In 2021, Cavendish drew level with Belgian Eddy Merckx’s record of 34 stage wins at the Tour de France, but another win eluded him in the following years. He signed up with Astana Qazaqstan for 2023, but dropped out of that year’s Tour de France after a fall. On the verge of retirement, he stayed with Astana Qazaqstan for another try at breaking the record. On July 3, it happened when he won the fifth stage of the Tour de France.

“It’s hard to fully grasp this success, but we worked towards it, and as a team, we did everything possible to make it happen,” 39-year-old Cavendish said.

“Few believed that we would succeed, that Mark’s arrival in Astana Qazaqstan Team would change history, but we believed and did everything to make today’s victory happen,” said Alexandr Vinokurov, general manager of the team. “We were close to this last year, but fate had other plans. I believe that real champions should not end their careers after a fall and injury, and I am happy that Mark decided to do another season in the end.”

Cavendish won his first Tour de France stage in 2008. Merckx, a five-time winner of the Tour de France, retired from racing in 1978.

This month, Chinese company XDS, one of the world’s biggest bicycle makers, said it will invest in the Astana Qazaqstan Team for at least five years, according to a team statement.