By Madina Usmanova

Copyright trend

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 16. During the
Second Ministerial Dialogue “Central Asia Plus Japan,” Kazakhstan’s
Minister of Energy Erlan Akkenzhenov outlined the country’s
strategic approach to achieving carbon neutrality and strengthening
regional partnerships, Trend reports via the ministry.

Speaking during an online meeting, Akkenzhenov detailed
Kazakhstan’s energy transition policy, which balances the realities
of its domestic economy, including significant coal reserves, with
global climate commitments. He stated that it’s a tall order to
expect a total ditching of coal anytime soon, so the country is
rolling up its sleeves to spruce up the old power plants with
cleaner technologies while also laying the groundwork for new
facilities.

A key point of the minister’s speech was the emphasis on
renewable energy sources (RES). Kazakhstan is setting its sights on
boosting the share of RES in its energy mix to 15 percent by 2030,
a target Akkenzhenov called ambitious but within reach, considering
the breadth of current projects in the pipeline.

The minister also highlighted the initiative to create a green
energy bridge between Asia and Europe, with Kazakhstan serving as a
crucial transit link for clean energy. To realize this vision, he
emphasized the need for technological partnerships, identifying
Japan as a key ally.

The Tokyo Dialogue constitutes a pivotal component of the
“Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue, serving as a strategic
framework aimed at enhancing collaborative synergies between Japan
and a quintet of Central Asian nations—namely Kazakhstan, the
Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. This
initiative manifests as an open symposium, facilitating the
engagement of domain experts and practitioners in a
discourse-driven environment.

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