Energy and Economy

Kazakhstan Announces Date for Nuclear Referendum

On September 2, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the date for a public referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant on the shores of Lake Balkhash. The vote will take place on October 6. Kazakh authorities have argued that expanding into nuclear power is the only way to meet the rising energy needs for the country, where nuclear power has long been taboo due to the public health and environmental legacies of Soviet-era nuclear testing in Kazakhstan.

Source: RFE

Germany and Kazakhstan Sign Agreements in Berlin

Representatives from Kazakhstan and Germany signed a total of 10 agreements during an August 28 meeting of the Kazakh-German Business Council in Berlin. These include a framework on developing investment cooperation, a memorandum of understanding between the Saarbrücken Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Kazakh Invest national company, and an agreement for a German firm to construct a light-aircraft factory in Almaty. Germany is Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner in the European Union. 

Source: Astana Times

Armenia’s Central Power Plant Back on After Lighting Strike

The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant was reconnected to Armenia’s electricity grid on August 31 after being shut off on August 30 due to a lightning strike. The plant, which is located at the town of Metsamor, was constructed over the course of the 1970s and generates 35-40% of Armenia’s electricity.

Source: RFE

Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania-Hungary Joint Venture Announced Following Bucharest Ministerial Meeting

On September 2, following a ministerial meeting of Azerbaijani, Georgian, Romanian, and Hungarian officials in Bucharest, Romania, Azerbaijani Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov announced the creation of a joint venture for the four countries. This venture will focus on the development of a green-energy corridor linking Azerbaijan to Europe. The parties have agreed to a rotating leadership of the venture and to conduct a feasibility study for fiber-optic cable and the integration of Bulgaria into the agreement. In 2022, Romania, Hungary, Georgia, and Azerbaijan agreed to construct a Black Sea energy submarine electric cable.

Source: Parviz Shahbazov on X/Twitter, Trend

Politics and Security 

Armenia and Azerbaijan Close to Peace Agreement

Armenia and Azerbaijani are now reportedly close to a final peace agreement, which would end over 30 years of conflict. At an August 31 press conference, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that Armenia has made a formal offer to sign a peace treaty after judging enough progress had been made on issues like border-demarcation. Pashinyan stated, “We have 17 articles in the latest draft of the peace treaty. Thirteen of them, including the preamble, are fully agreed on.” The announcement came two days after Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to the creation of a joint commission on border demarcation. 

Source: Politico

Russia Suspends Funds to Abkhazia Amid Political Disagreement

Sergei Shamba, the foreign representative of the self-declared Republic of Abkhazia, a Russian-backed separatist entity on the territory of Georgia, announced on September 3 that Russia had suspended funding for the Socio-Economic Development Program for Abkhazia. Shamba also announced that Russia would begin charging Abkhazia commercial rates for energy, having long charged Abkhazia discounted prices. The moves come after a leaked document stipulated Russia would halt support to Abkhazia until a number of pro-Russian reforms on economic and judicial integration were instituted.

Source: OC-Media