Petrochemistry and Hydrogen in Central Asia and the Caspian Sea Business Summit Held in Astana
From September 17 to 19, the British company Globuc, with the support of JSC "NC "KAZAKH INVEST," on the eve of the leading conference on the development of petrochemistry in Central Asia and the Caspian region, held an annual business summit dedicated to hydrogen energy and the further development of this industry in the region. This event brought together leading experts and industry representatives to discuss key trends, innovations, and opportunities in these strategically important areas. Azamat Kozhanov, Managing Director of KAZAKH INVEST, and Dinara Isabekova, Industry Executive of the Task Force Department, spoke on behalf of the national company at the events.
Azamat Kozhanov moderated the green hydrogen session and spoke in a panel discussion in the field of petrochemistry devoted to scaling the hydrogen economy from local production to the global market. During the session, a number of issues were discussed, such as the path of green hydrogen in Central Asia, decarbonization diplomacy in Central Asia, and the potential of renewable energy in Kazakhstan.
"If we talk about the further development of the green hydrogen industry in the Republic of Kazakhstan, then we are still at the very beginning of the path, and investors' efforts are aimed at exploring the possibility of implementing large-scale projects, while for the full development of the industry it is necessary to identify domestic consumers, these are the requirements of investors such as Svevind and AcwaPower. We will most likely have to concentrate our efforts on a pilot project to be implemented in the country shortly. Fertilizer producers are seen as more likely consumers in this regard," Azamat Kozhanov clarified.
For the development of the petrochemical industry, within the framework of KAZAKH INVEST's mandate, 5 new projects aimed at processing commercial gas are being developed. According to these projects, the necessary documents have already been prepared for the conclusion of an Investment Agreement with the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
"To date, we are actively working on three projects to reduce natural gas production in the Republic of Kazakhstan, including the possibility of export. All calculations have already been made for one of the projects, and a commission has been formed at the Government level. There are also two projects for the production of carbamide. All projects are implemented at the expense of private and foreign investments. As the agreement operator with the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, we will accompany these projects at all stages. During negotiations, we always focus on social obligations on the part of investors," Azamat Kozhanov added.
Dinara Isabekova spoke at the second session of the Business Summit, which was dedicated to critical projects and industry leaders in Central Asia and the Caspian region. During her speech, she noted that hydrogen is becoming one of the key technologies to achieve carbon neutrality. With its rich natural resources and ambitious decarbonization plans, Kazakhstan has every chance to take a leading position in this area, regionally and internationally.
"Kazakhstan sets a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. We are actively developing innovative solutions, among which hydrogen occupies an important place. Our resources allow us to plan the export of "green" hydrogen to world markets," she stressed.
Dinara Isabekova also spoke about the work of KAZAKH INVEST to attract investments in hydrogen projects and create infrastructure for the hydrogen economy. Special attention was paid to the Alliance of companies in the field of green hydrogen, which serves as a platform for cooperation and dialogue between market participants.
At the end of the forum, the participants noted the importance of international cooperation in developing the hydrogen economy. They stressed the need to create favorable conditions for attracting investment in this sector. The business Summit concluded with a discussion of prospects for regional cooperation and ways to enter world markets with environmentally friendly products, which will be an important step towards achieving carbon neutrality in Central Asia and the Caspian region.
