Foreign media on Kazakhstan: thermal power plants with Russia, nuclear power plant, CICA
From the agreement to build thermal power plants with Russia to the cost of the possible nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia joining the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) an observer state, Kazinform News Agency presents a review of foreign media coverage about Kazakhstan this week.
AKIpress: Kazakhstan signs agreements with Russia on three thermal power plants
AKIpress published an article on December 27 that the Kazakh government has entered into agreements with Russian partners to construct thermal power plants in Kokshetau, Semei, and Oskemen.
The contracts were formalized during Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's official visit to St. Petersburg. Additionally, plans include the construction of a thermal power plant in Ust-Kamenogorsk, scheduled for commissioning in 2030.
The development of three thermal power plants will increase the country's overall power generation capacity.
The agency quotes the CEO of Kazakhstan's Samruk Kazyna Nurlan Zhakupov, who said “this project will strengthen the energy system, increase its reliability and add about one gigaton to our generation capacity.”
“Russian banks will provide the financing, which will be obtained for a term of about 15 years at a very competitive interest rate and will be subsidized by the Russian government," he said, as quoted by the agency.
Caspian News: Official Estimates First Nuclear Plant in Kazakhstan Could Cost Up to $15B
Caspian News published an article on December 24, discussing the potential construction of the nuclear power station in Kazakhstan and citing the head of the Kazakhstan Atomic Power Stations company Timur Zhantikin.
He stated that the construction of the country’s first nuclear plant may cost up to $15 billion.
“The cost is $10-15 billion for the initial station,” he said, as quoted by the agency.
He further emphasized that the project was not presently in the execution phase, and the efforts made thus far were part of the pre-project activities. In essence, they were in the process of considering different options for Kazakhstan's inaugural nuclear power plant, and the current efforts primarily constituted preliminary groundwork.
However, the nation still expects the national referendum that will decide the fate of the nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan.
Budapest Business Journal: MOL Announces Start of Production at Gas Field in Kazakhstan
Budapest Business Journal published an article on December 22 about the start of production at a gas field in Kazakhstan by companies from Kazakhstan, Hungary and China.
“MOL said the first well at the Rozhkovskoye gas and condensate field in the west of the country had started production with a rate of 300,000 cubic meters of raw gas per day. In the pilot phase, with one well in production, the Rozhkovskoye field is expected to contribute 1,300 barrels of oil equivalent (boe) per day to group-level production,” reads the article.
Four additional wells will be put into production in the third quarter of 2024, boosting production to 1.5 million cubic meters of gas per day.
The Hindu: MG University joins hands with Kazakhstan university
India’s The Hindu published an article on December 27, announcing that Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU), Kottayam, is collaborating with Auezov South Kazakhstan University in Kazakhstan for research programs that are socially relevant.
“As part of it, MGU Vice-Chancellor (V-C) C. T. Aravindakumar held consultations with Kazakhstan university officials. An official statement said topics such as climate change and water purification would be accorded prime importance in the partnership and that these proposals can be submitted to Kazakhstan funding agencies,” reads the article.
Aravindakumar highlighted that a recent memorandum of understanding inked between the two universities signifies a strategic initiative aimed at fostering collaboration across diverse fields. The Indian Embassy in Kazakhstan has also extended an invitation to MGU, encouraging the exploration of partnerships with several universities in Kazakhstan.
AzerNews: Saudi Arabia becomes tenth CICA observer state
AzerNews reported on December 28 that Saudi Arabia joined the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) as an observer state.
Kazakhstan chairs the organization until 2024.
“This event was an important milestone in the further geographical expansion of this pan-continental organization for strengthening peace and security in Asia. Saudi Arabia is one of the Gulf States, among which the CICA already includes such member states as Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. The observer status of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will further increase the representation of this subregion in the CICA and, thus, expand and enrich cooperation throughout Asia,” reads the article.
