Foreign media on Kazakhstan: Erlan Karin’s take on reforms, renewables, energy deals at COP28
From State Counselor Erlan Karin’s take on political reforms in Kazakhstan to new energy deals in Kazakhstan and renewable energy development, Kazinform News Agency presents a review of foreign media coverage about Kazakhstan this week.
L’Essentiel: L’agenda créatif du Kazakhstan
State Counselor Erlan Karin’s article titled L’agenda créatif du Kazakhstan summing up some of the results of Kazakhstan’s development this year was published in France’s L`Essentiel des relations internationales magazine.
In the article, Karin observes that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev consistently implements reforms intending to modernize Kazakhstan. According to him, the year 2023 was no different and was characterized by a multitude of reforms.
Karin highlights the coherence of the reforms in both politics and the economy, led by the Kazakh President. Each reform and new initiative complement one another and possess a systemic nature.
“The new electoral cycle has consolidated the continued development of our state exclusively on the basis of democratic principles and political competition. It is worth noting that the elections were not an end in themselves but a logical step in the implementation of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s political program,” writes Karin.
Reuters: Kazakhstan signs deals for 3GW of wind power
Reuters reported on December 2 about the agreements Kazakhstan entered with France's TotalEnergies, the United Arab Emirates company Masdar, and Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power to construct wind farms boasting a combined capacity of 3 gigawatts (GW).
“The farms will be built in the southern Zhambyl region, the southeastern Zhetysu region and either Kostanai or Akmola regions in the north,” reads the article.
The article cites the statement from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s office that the project in Zhetysu with ACWA Power, discussed during his UAE visit, is projected to cost $1.8 billion and have a capacity of 1 GW.
Euronews: SPECA: Central Asia reaffirms its key role in international transport
Euronews published an article about the meeting of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) in Baku. It devoted part of the article to Kazakhstan’s clean energy transition.
Euronews interviewed President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on how Kazakhstan sees the net-zero transformation.
“We are quite serious about decarbonising our economy, and about the diversification of our economy, making impetus on developing non-carbon sectors in Kazakhstan,” Tokayev told Euronews.
He went on to say that “there needs to be a huge change in our mindsets first of all, and I do acknowledge that it’s a general trend in global economic development, and Kazakhstan won’t lag behind, and at the same time we are very much committed to environmental protection.” “Yes, Kazakhstan still relies on coal in its energy mix, but I think that in the nearest future the situation will change positively,” said Tokayev.
The Geopolitics: From Oil to Renewables: Kazakhstan’s Transformative Environmental Journey
The Geopolitics, a New York-based magazine on international relations, world politics, and a wide range of issues of global importance, published an article on December 4 discussing Kazakhstan’s environmental journey.
“In the contemporary geopolitical landscape, Kazakhstan’s emerging role as a promoter of sustainability and climate action is both a strategic pivot and a response to global environmental challenges,” reads the article.
The author writes that the country’s initiatives “offer a unique perspective on how nations with similar historical backgrounds can contribute to and benefit from global sustainability efforts.”
“President Tokayev’s vision, articulated at COP28, underscores Kazakhstan’s commitment to environmental stewardship and highlights its potential as a bridge between East and West in climate diplomacy. By ratifying the Paris Agreement early and adopting a Carbon Neutrality Strategy for 2060, Kazakhstan sets a precedent in Central Asia. The country’s new Environmental Code is a bold step towards integrating green technology across its economy, representing a significant shift in national policy and an opportunity for international collaboration, particularly with Europe and the United States,” reads the article.
Eurasianet: Kazakhstan: Ambitious renewables agenda setting healthy pace
Eurasianet published an article on December 4, delving into Kazakhstan’s initiatives in renewable energy development.
It discusses the deals signed during the COP28 summit in Dubai, including the one with Masdar Company and Saudi-based ACWA Power.
“For context, the United Nations Development Program estimates that Kazakhstan currently has around 2.5 gigawatts of installed capacity in renewable energy sources across the board. The government is seeking to draw interest from smaller investors too. Companies are routinely invited to take part in wind and solar power plant construction projects,” reads the article.
Emirates News Agency: Presight, Samruk Kazyna announce joint venture to accelerate digital transformation in Kazakhstan
Emirates News Agency reported on December 3 about the cooperation between Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates to create a joint venture aimed at promoting digital transformation in Kazakhstan.
“Presight AI Holding, the region’s leading big data analytics company powered by generative AI, and the Kazakh Sovereign Wealth Fund Samruk-Kazyna, today announced a joint venture on the sidelines of COP28, in the presence of the President of Kazakhstan Kasym Zhomart Tokayev, to establish a company to accelerate digital transformation in Kazakhstan, through deployment of Presight’s solutions and technologies,” reads the article.
