Vitality has at all times been a essential subject in Central Asia, which renders it maybe shocking that it was solely on August 6, 2024, that the area’s vitality minister met collectively in Astana and signed a joint communique.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Vitality in a press launch referred to as the assembly the “first” among the many area’s vitality ministers. In framing the assembly, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Vitality Almasadam Satkaliyev mentioned, “Fluctuations in oil and gasoline costs and different elements result in uncertainty in vitality provides, which traditionally ensures regional and nationwide socio-economic stability. To make sure the safety of vitality provides, it’s essential to develop mechanisms for forecasting and managing these challenges, in addition to to strengthen cooperation between our international locations.”
In line with Orda.kz, the joint communique signed after the assembly acknowledged that the events would “proceed to strengthen cooperation and develop alternatives for vitality commerce, and stimulate the event of recent vitality infrastructure.”
Satkaliyev chaired the gathering and was joined by Kyrgyz Minister of Vitality Talaibek Ibraev, Tajikistan’s Minister of Vitality and Water Assets Daler Juma, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Vitality Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, and Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Vitality Orkhan Zeynalov.
Though some media studies acknowledged that Turkmen Minister of Vitality Annageldi Saparov was in attendance, others noted that it was really the country’s ambassador to Kazakhstan who represented Turkmenistan on the assembly (and from the group photo it does seem that Ambassador Batyr Rejepov represented Turkmenistan).
The assembly of the area’s vitality ministers got here days forward of the sixth Consultative Assembly of the Heads of State of Central Asia, scheduled to happen August 9 in Astana.
Joint initiatives and cooperative alternatives bought prime billing within the assembly. Satkaliyev famous Kazakhstan’s efforts, in cooperation with Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. In May, the three international locations signed a memorandum on linking their vitality programs.
Satkaliyev additionally reportedly famous energetic discussions with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan concerning the development of the Kambar-Ata-1 hydroelectric energy plant (HPP). In January 2023, the three international locations signed a roadmap for the mission and in June 2024, they reportedly signed “an settlement to organize for the development and operation” of the proposed dam.
Past Kazakhstan’s initiatives, an essential effort to trace is Tajikistan’s ambition to reconnect to the Central Asian Built-in Energy System (IPS or CAPS), which it announced in late May. Dushanbe disconnected from the system in 2009.
In 2018, the Asian Improvement Financial institution (ADB) accepted a $35 million grant to assist reconnect Tajikistan’s electrical energy system to CAPS through Uzbekistan. However approvals and last outcomes will be fairly distant cousins. As Peter Krasnopolsky wrote for The Diplomat final month, “Tajikistan’s intention to reconnect to the frequent energy system, whether or not it takes place this summer time or is postponed once more, provides a robust indication of the belief by Central Asian leaders that the area’s potential can solely be achieved by cooperation.”
In its readout of the current assembly of vitality ministers, Tajikistan’s Ministry of Energy noted that in his remarks, Juma “acknowledged that to be able to enhance the reliability of the area’s vitality system, a mission on ‘Reconnection of the vitality system of Tajikistan to the Unified Vitality System of Central Asia’ is at present being applied, throughout the framework of which, at first of June of this 12 months, the vitality system of the southwestern a part of Tajikistan was linked to the vitality system of the Central Asian Unified Vitality System.”
Other topics broached included “good” energy grids, electrical energy storage, a gradual vitality transition, and additional areas for joint initiatives, notably the gasoline trade. The events reportedly agreed to established an vitality dialogue, which incorporates the creation of a working group and continued common conferences of vitality officers.
