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Kazakhstan Under Pressure to Address Environmental Crisis

The United Nations Green Climate Fund (GCF) has pledged $280 million to Kazakhstan for environmental projects, underscoring the country's increasingly urgent ecological challenges. Experts warn that Kazakhstan faces a widening crisis as environmental degradation accelerates. Toward a “Green” Transition Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nyssanbayev announced that the GCF will allocate substantial funding to Kazakhstan to support initiatives in renewable energy, electric transport development, and the adoption of low-carbon industrial technologies. “These investments will accelerate the country's transition to a sustainable, environmentally friendly economy,” Nyssanbayev stated. The minister said that Kazakhstan prepared a national program for GCF funding in 2024, comprising seven major initiatives. These included reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector, strengthening rural water supply systems, modernizing livestock farms, and promoting private-sector green financing. The program's total budget exceeds $1 billion, with $630 million potentially financed by the GCF. Additionally, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) continues to back renewable energy projects in Kazakhstan. Eleven projects with a combined capacity of 330 MW are planned by 2027; nine have already secured financing. A Mounting Environmental Toll Kazakhstan continues to struggle with serious environmental challenges, many rooted in the Soviet-era legacy, and others emerging from modern development pressures. The country faces desertification, flooding, frequent wildfires, and escalating urban air pollution, particularly in cities like Almaty, Pavlodar, and Karaganda. On June 5, the government announced the formation of a Biodiversity Protection Fund at a forum in Astana. Akylbek Kurishbayev, President of the National Academy of Sciences, emphasized the urgency of regional collaboration in biodiversity conservation amid intensifying climate and anthropogenic pressures. Deputy Minister Nurlan Kurmalayev highlighted biodiversity preservation as a key component of environmental security and sustainable land use, calling for cross-border cooperation. In parallel, the national initiative “Green Kazakhstan” is advancing afforestation efforts across urban and rural areas, alongside waste management programs, ecosystem restoration, energy efficiency campaigns, and public education on environmental stewardship. Environmental Disaster Zones: The Caspian and Aral Seas Two of Kazakhstan's most pressing ecological crises involve the shrinking Caspian and Aral Seas. The Caspian Sea's water levels are falling dramatically. According to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, levels in 2024 are expected to drop by 22 cm in the northeast and 29 cm in the eastern Kazakh sector compared to 2023. Scientists warn of continued decline due to reduced inflows from the Volga and Ural rivers and rising global temperatures. TCA has previously reported about mass die-outs of Caspian seals in recent years. Vadim Ni, founder of the Save the Caspian Sea movement, described the crisis as triple-faceted, climate, ecological, and economic. “Its level is falling at an unprecedented rate, 2 meters over the past 20 years. By century’s end, up to one-third of its surface could be lost,” he said, warning that the shallow northern shelf, vital to the ecosystem, is especially at risk. Pollution, overfishing, and unchecked oil extraction are cited as critical threats. In April 2025, Mazhilis Deputy Sergei Ponomarev addressed a parliamentary inquiry to Prime...

Foreign Investment Energy Exports Caspian Green Energy Corridor Green Future Green Energy

Central Asia’s Green Energy Dream: Too Big to Achieve?

Although most Central Asian nations are heavily dependent on fossil fuel production and exports, they are aiming to significantly increase the use of renewable energy, hoping to eventually become crucial suppliers of so-called green electricity to Europe. Achieving such an ambitious goal will be easier said than done, given that developing the green energy sector in the region requires massive investment. What Central Asian states – struggling to attract long-term private capital into clean energy projects – need is financing for projects that modernize power networks, improve grid stability, and enable cross-border electricity flows. These upgrades are essential for large-scale renewable energy deployment and regional trade in power. Most actors in Central Asia seem to have taken major steps in this direction. In November 2024, at the COP29 climate conference held in Baku, Kazakhstan signed several deals worth nearly $3.7 billion with international companies and development institutions to support green energy projects. Neighboring Uzbekistan, according to reports, has attracted more than €22 billion ($23.9) in foreign investment in renewable energy, while Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan – which is aiming to generate all its electricity from green energy sources by 2032 – have developed strategies to help increase their renewable potential. But to turn their goals into reality, all these nations will need funding – whether from oil-rich Middle Eastern countries, China, the European Union, or various international financial institutions. Presently, the development of the Caspian Green Energy Corridor – which aims to supply green electricity from Central Asia to Azerbaijan and further to Europe – remains the region’s most ambitious project. According to Yevgeniy Zhukov, the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Director General for Central and West Asia, this initiative is a strategic priority for Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan. “While the prospect of exporting green electricity to Europe is part of the long-term vision, the core goal of the initiative is to accelerate green growth within the region,” Zhukov told The Times of Central Asia. Together with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the ADB is funding a feasibility study for this proposed transmission corridor. The study will assess the technical and economic viability of such a system, along with the environmental and regulatory requirements. In the meantime, the ABD is expected to continue funding other green energy projects in the region. The financial entity, according to Zhukov, invested $250 million in Uzbekistan in 2023 to support renewable energy development and comprehensive power sector reforms, while in other Central Asian countries, it remains “firmly committed to driving the green energy transition.” “For instance, in Tajikistan we are exploring the potential to co-finance the Rogun Hydropower Project alongside the World Bank and other international partners. In Kyrgyzstan, our focus has been on supporting foundational reforms in the energy sector, including strengthening the policy and regulatory environment to attract private investment in renewables. In Turkmenistan, we’ve launched a total of $1.75 million technical assistance initiative to help lay the groundwork for future renewable energy development,” Zhukov stressed, pointing out that these efforts are part...

Jizzakh Region Green Energy solar power

Chinese Firms to Build 500 MW Solar Power Plant in Uzbekistan’s Jizzakh Region

A major solar power project is set to launch in the Forish district of Uzbekistan’s Jizzakh region, following a presidential decree issued earlier this month. The project entails the construction of a 500-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) plant along with supporting power transmission infrastructure. According to the decree, the initiative aims to ensure a stable energy supply for both the population and key sectors of the economy, reduce dependence on natural gas in electricity generation, and increase the share of renewables in Uzbekistan’s energy mix. To carry out the project, China Electrical Equipment International Co. Ltd. and China Huadian Overseas Co. Ltd. have formed a joint venture, Huadian Jizzakh Solar Power LLC. The companies will design, finance, construct, and operate the facility. Total direct investment is projected at 2.08 billion yuan (approximately $290 million). Under a 25-year guaranteed purchase agreement, Uzbekistan’s state electricity buyer, Uzenergosotish JSC, will buy the generated electricity. For the construction site, the government has allocated 991.1 hectares of pastureland in Forish, which will be reclassified from agricultural to industrial use. This announcement follows a wave of green energy initiatives signed during the inaugural Samarkand International Climate Forum in April 2025. Among them was an agreement with China’s Liquip International to build another solar facility in the same region. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Chinese investment in Jizzakh continues to grow. In June 2024, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev inaugurated a Technopark in the Zaamin district, where Chinese firms are financing 30 projects valued at $1.2 billion. The development is expected to generate over 5,000 jobs.

EU Cooperation Investment Transport and Logistics EU-Central Asia Relations EU-Central Asia Summit Central Asia‐EU Summit Green Energy

Samarkand Declaration Paves the Way for a Stronger Central Asia–EU Partnership

The inaugural Central Asia-European Union Summit, held in Samarkand on April 3-4, marked a significant milestone in strengthening ties between the two regions. According to Sherzod Asadov, press secretary to Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the summit's most significant outcome is the adoption of the Samarkand Declaration, which is expected to provide strong momentum for expanding constructive dialogue and cooperation across all sectors. In a statement, the EU reaffirmed its "commitment to deeper cooperation in an evolving global and regional geopolitical landscape [and] upgrade relations between the European Union and Central Asia to a strategic partnership." The EU declaration also committed the bloc to respect the "sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states within the framework of all international and regional fora" and expressed readiness to "address common security challenges." Strengthening Economic Ties Economic cooperation featured prominently on the agenda. Since 2020, trade between Uzbekistan and the EU has doubled, now exceeding €6 billion. Uzbek exports to the EU have quadrupled, and the number of joint ventures has surpassed a thousand. European investment projects in Uzbekistan, meanwhile, are now valued at over €30 billion. A key development was the agreement to open a regional office of the European Investment Bank (EIB) in Tashkent. Established in 1958, the EIB is the EU’s primary financial institution, and its new office is expected to attract greater investment in green energy, modern infrastructure, and digitalization. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has also deepened its engagement in Uzbekistan, investing over €5 billion to date. “We must work together to simplify trade procedures and ensure that Central Asian products gain greater access to European markets. Only through joint efforts can we build a strong and resilient economic partnership,” Mirziyoyev told Euronews. "Over the past seven years, the trade turnover between Central Asian countries and the EU has quadrupled, amounting to 54 billion euros... The signing of the Samarkand Declaration will reflect the common aspiration of the parties to establish a strategic partnership and lay the foundation for deepening ties between our regions." During the summit, Mirziyoyev met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa. Discussions focused on trade, investment, green energy, and digital development, with the EU’s "Global Gateway” strategy, a counterpart to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a central topic. The initiative is seeking to enhance global infrastructure and connectivity while promoting sustainability and transparency. “The EU and Central Asia are becoming closer partners, and this summit marks the beginning of a new phase in our cooperation,” von der Leyen stated. An Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Uzbekistan and the EU is also under negotiation. Regional Dialogue Among Central Asian Leaders The Summit also offered a platform for Central Asian heads of state to hold bilateral discussions. Mirziyoyev met with his counterparts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Talks centered on increasing trade, improving border security, and advancing major infrastructure projects. A recent landmark border agreement between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan was lauded as a breakthrough. Uzbekistan...

Energy Green Energy Crude Oil Natural gas

Kazakhstan to Expand Oil, Gas, and Green Energy Production in 2025

The Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan has released its 2024 fuel and energy sector report and outlined its plans for 2025. The country aims to increase crude oil and natural gas production while expanding renewable energy capacity. Oil Production and Refining In 2024, Kazakhstan produced 87.7 million tons of crude oil. Oil refining met the target of 17.9 million tons, while the production of: Oil products reached 14.5 million tons (exceeding the plan) Liquefied gas totaled 3 million tons Petrochemical products amounted to 540,000 tons In 2025, the country aims to boost crude oil production to 96.2 million tons, driven by the expansion of production at the Tengiz field and continued development at Karachaganak, Kalamkas-Sea, and Khazar. Natural Gas Expansion and Infrastructure Kazakhstan produced 59 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas in 2024 and plans to increase output to 62.8 bcm in 2025. As of last year, 61.8% of Kazakhstan’s population had access to natural gas supplies. The government plans to expand gasification efforts in 2025 through the completion of major gas pipelines and distribution stations. Growth in Renewable Energy and Electricity Generation Kazakhstan generated 117.9 billion kWh of electricity in 2024, with 7.58 billion kWh (6.4%) coming from renewable energy sources (RES). In 2025, the country will implement nine new RES projects with a total capacity of 455.5 MW, further increasing the share of green energy and reducing the carbon footprint of Kazakhstan’s energy sector.

Energy Security renewable energy sources Green Energy Solar Energy Renewable energy China

Kyrgyzstan Begins Construction of a New Solar Power Plant

Kyrgyzstan has launched the construction of a new solar power plant in the Kemin district of the Chui region, approximately 100 kilometers east of the capital, Bishkek. The plant will have a capacity of 100 MW and is expected to generate 155 million kWh of electricity annually. According to the government, this will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 140,000 tons and coal consumption by 50,000 tons per year. At the January 21 groundbreaking ceremony, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev described the project as a significant step toward achieving Kyrgyzstan’s energy independence and advancing sustainable development. Acknowledging that the country still heavily relies on its Soviet-era hydroelectric power plants for electricity generation, Kasymaliev emphasized Kyrgyzstan’s commitment to adopting modern and environmentally friendly energy solutions. Kasymaliev also highlighted the country’s growing energy demands, noting that Kyrgyzstan’s population now exceeds 7 million and new large-scale industrial enterprises are being established. He expressed optimism that the new solar power plant would help alleviate electricity shortages, which remain a pressing issue, especially during the winter months. The chairman extended his gratitude to Chinese partners and investors, particularly those from Shaanxi Province, for their support and contributions to the project. Kyrgyzstan is actively addressing its energy challenges by investing in a diversified mix of renewable energy initiatives, including solar and wind farms, as well as large hydroelectric power projects.