Energy and Economy

 

Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan Agree to Merge Energy Systems

At the Tashkent International Forum on May 1, the energy ministries of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to determine the foundational terms of cooperation for the ambitious project of linking the energy systems of the three countries. As a part of the agreement, the parties will study the feasibility of connecting energy systems by laying a high-voltage submarine cable across the Caspian Sea. According to Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov, this agreement will allow the countries to interact in the production of green energy and organize its export through Azerbaijan to Europe.

Source: The Astana Times, Caspian News

Kazakhstan and Qatar Companies Sign Deals on Kashagan and New Pipelines
On May 3, Kazakhstan’s Qazaqgaz and Qatar’s UCC Holding reached an agreement on four major gas projects in Kazakhstan. These projects include construction of two gas processing plants with the capacities of 1 billion cubic meters (bcm) and 2.5 bcm, commissioning of a new compressor station, and the construction of the second line of the Beineu-Bozoi-Shymkent gas pipeline. 

Source: The Astana Times

Saudi and Emirati Companies to Build Wind Farms in Uzbekistan

Saudi and Emirati companies will invest $7 billion in the construction of two windfarms in the Kungrad district of Uzbekistan’s autonomous Karakalpakstan republic. The Uzbek Energy Ministry said, “Saudi company ACWA Power is implementing a megaproject to build a wind farm with a total capacity of 5 gigawatts in the Kungrad district of Karakalpakstan. The project is estimated at $6.2 billion. The station will generate 17.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.”

Source: Times of Central Asia

Turkmenistan’s Revenues from Gas Exports to China Surpass Russia’s

During the first quarter of 2024, Turkmenistan received $2.4 billion in revenues from its exports of natural gas to China. Meanwhile, Russia earned $2 bn from its gas sales to Beijing over the same period. Turkmenistan has been increasing its gas exports to Russia, while China has been acquiring Russian natural gas at a discounted price.

Source: Daryo.uz

Security and Politics

 

Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia to Meet in Almaty

The Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia will meet on May 10 in Almaty for peace treaty negotiations. Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had proposed hosting the peace talks during an official visit to Yerevan last month, and had welcomed an agreement between the two countries. 

Source: The Astana Times 

EU to Allocate more than €2 million to Demining in Azerbaijan

During an event of the European Mine Action Team held in Azerbaijan on May 3, Director-General of the Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission Gert Jan Koopman announced that the European Union (EU) will be allocating more than €2 million towards “mine victim support, mine awareness, [and the] mine clearance process” in Azerbaijan. He further added that 10 European Union member states are contributing to the initiative.

Source: Apa.az

Armenia and Hungary Agree to Open Embassies

During a joint press conference between Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó and Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan in Budapest on May 6, it was announced that Armenia and Hungary have agreed to open embassies in each other's capitals. The two sides came to an agreement to restore diplomatic relations in December 2022.

Source: Armenpress.am

Kyrgyzstan Advises Citizens Against Traveling to Russia

On May 2, Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement advising its citizens to avoid any unnecessary travel to Russia after a recent increase in reports of heightened security screenings at the border and refusals of entry for individuals from Central Asian countries. Following the March 22 Crocus City Hall attack in Moscow, there have been increased instances of xenophobia and scrutiny against Central Asian citizens in Russia.

Source: The Moscow Times

 Sources: Apa.az, Armenpress.am, Caspian News, Daryo.uz, Times of Central Asia, The Astana Times, The Moscow Times.