Green Economy in Kazakhstan

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Kazakhstan set the goal that its transition into the green economy will increase GDP by 3%, and create more than 500 thousand new jobs. [1]

Contents

Kazakhstan's green economy concept policy, adopted in 2013, aims to diversify the economy through careful use of natural resources. The project began in 2015 and is expected to continue through 2018. [2]

In June 2014, the Kazakh government set tariffs for energy produced by renewables in a bid to get three percent of electricity from cleaner sources by 2020. [3] Kazakhstan plans to spend an average $3.2 billion a year along with investors to achieve its green goals by 2050 and cut carbon emissions by 40 percent in 2050 from 2012 levels. [3]

The Kazakh Ministry of Energy together with the Development Programme (UNDP) launched a joint program tackling country's electronic waste problem. [4] The project aims at helping to improve the efficiency of services for collection, transportation, use, and disposal of this type of waste. [4] Also, in order to reduce carbon emissions, Kazakhstan and the UNDP implement a project named "Sustainable Cities for Low Carbon Development." The program covers 15 cities of Kazakhstan. [5]

In April 2016, the President of Kazakhstan signed the law “On introducing amendments and addenda to some legislative acts of Kazakhstan on the transition to green economy.” The amendments seek to improve legislation related to ecology and renewable energy. [6]

Kazakhstan actively attracts foreign investments to finance and develop green project in the country. For example, in late 2016 the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed two financing contracts for EUR 150 million and EUR 50 million that will help to implement the “Concept for the Transition of the Republic of Kazakhstan to a Green Economy.” [7]

Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy

As part of President Nazarbayev's broad Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy initiative, which is designed to modernize and diversify the nation's carbon-reliant economy, renewable and alternative energy sources will provide 50 percent of all electricity produced in Kazakhstan by 2050, according to a Decree signed by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev on May 30, 2013. [8]

One of the priority directions of the development of a green economy is the development of renewable energy sources. According to the concept, the country targets to achieve a three per cent share of renewable energy in total electricity by 2020. [9]

Kazakhstan has indicated it will use one third of its wastes to generate 'green' energy by 2050. [10]

In 2013 two wind power plants were put into operation in North Kazakhstan. [11] In 2014 Zhambyl region (South Kazakhstan) will have two wind power stations. [12] KazAgroFinance has adopted a program on financing of renewable energy production in the remote villages of Kazakhstan [13] In 2013 Kazakhstan adopted legislation establishing feed-in tariffs for renewables, which will be in place for 15 years in order to encourage investment in the sector [14] In January 2014 BISOL Group completed the installation of a 2 megawatt ground mounted solar power plant in the city of Kapchagay in the Almaty Province, the largest photovoltaic system in the country so far. [15]

Legislation

Kazakhstan takes measures to develop a comprehensive legal framework for the country's transition to a green economy. President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed the law “On introducing amendments and addenda to some legislative acts of Kazakhstan on the transition to green economy” in April 2016. [6] In July 2016 the law came into force. Its main areas of application include waste, electric power industry and water resources. [16]

Green Bridge Partnership Programme 2011-2020

Kazakhstan created a multilateral, cross-sectoral and voluntary Partnership Programme "Green Bridge" to provide a stable and long-term basis for green investment, transfer of new technologies and innovations to create sustainable economies and create new and long-term green jobs. [17] In 2012 the Green Bridge Partnership Programme (GBPP) was endorsed by the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Brazil. [18] The GBPP is also backed by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) at an OSCE-supported international forum that was held in Astana in July 2017. [19]

On November 20, 2013, Foreign Minister Erlan Idrisov met with heads of the European Union urging the EU to become a member of the Green Bridge Partnership. If the EU joined, it would help spark innovation in green technology and with water conservation like the Aral Sea. [20] As of November 2015, the GBPP Charter was signed by 14 countries and 12 NGOs. [18]

Green finance

Kazakhstan aspires to become a regional hub for green finance. The regulatory framework for green finance is developed by the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). The new regulatory framework for green finance will be within the jurisdiction of the AIFC, which is based on the English Common Law. [21]

Astana Expo 2017

Astana, Kazakhstan hosted the 2017 World's Fair between June 10 and September 10, 2017. The Astana EXPO 2017 has the theme Future Energy and its framework will support Astana's development of a sustainable green economy. The expo infrastructure will be used for multi uses buildings including housing the International Green Technologies Centre and the Astana International Financial Center.

International Support & Investment

The EU, UNDP and UNECE launched a joint project "Supporting Kazakhstan’s transition to a green economy model”. [22] The project is supported by the EU with 7,1 million Euros budget and is targeted to bring water governance in Kazakhstan align with the Green Economy Strategy of the country. [22]

Green housing in Astana

On November 18, 2014 the Chairman of the Board of the Samruk Kazyna Real Estate Fund Bolat Palymbetov announced at a Central Communications Service (CCS) press briefing that the construction of a residential area using green technologies had begun in Astana. [23] The Green Quarter is a residential and office complex that incorporates advanced technologies. [23] The architectural concept of a green quarter was developed by British company AEDAS, one of the world's largest architectural firms. [23] An advanced system aimed at reducing water and energy consumption by 20 percent to be installed at the facilities. [23] According to preliminary estimates, the project will cost 44 billion tenge ($US240 million). [23]

"We can now say with confidence that the Green Quarter will be yet another jewel of the city visible at the opening of EXPO 2017,” Palymbetov said. [23]

European Bank of Reconstruction and Development

Kazakhstan was the first EBRD country to sign up for the EBRD Sustainable Energy Action Plan. The EBRD has invested over US$650 million in energy efficiency projects in Kazakhstan in corporate energy efficiency, credit lines to partner banks for on-lending to the private sector, cleaner energy production, renewable energy, and municipal infrastructure energy efficiency.Energy savings from projects financed by the EBRD so far amount to about 10 per cent of the country's use of electricity. As a result of these projects, Kazakhstan reduced its greenhouse gas emissions reductions amount by 3,885 kilotonnes per year. [24]

The East Kazakhstan region and EBRD partner in financing two energy-saving projects in the region. The funding goes to the replacement of street lighting with energy-saving bulbs. The implementation of the project is expected to let the region save its spending on lighting by 60%. [25]

Green Climate Fund

The Green Climate Fund is to support Kazakhstan's green economy by approval of $110 million for modernization of power grid and investment in solar, wind energy, hydropower and biogas projects. [26]

Renewable Energy Development

Kazakhstan plans to commission 106 facilities generating energy from renewable energy sources by late 2020. [27] Kazakhstan will commission 28 solar power plants with the capacity of 713.5 megawatts in Almaty, Zhambyl, Atyrau, Karaganda, Kyzylorda, South Kazakhstan and Mangistau provinces. [27] Energy from renewable sources increased by 32 percent year over year in 2017. [28]

By mid-2016 the installed capacity of renewable energy facilities in Kazakhstan increased by 1.4 times compared to the same period of 2015 totaling 251.55 megawatts. [29]

According to the Ministry of Energy, Kazakhstan created a regulatory framework and technical instruments allowing the country to integrate renewable energy sources into the national energy mix until 2020. As of September 2016, Kazakhstan already had 48 operating renewable energy facilities with a total capacity of 252.37 MW (hydroelectric power plants - 122.99 MW; wind power plants - 71.87 MW; solar power plants - 57.16 MW; biogas units - 0.35 MW). [30]

Kazakhstan implements a project, "Providing Assistance to the Government of Republic of Kazakhstan to Implement the Green Economy Transition Concept of Republic of Kazakhstan and Institutionalize the Green Bridge Partnership Programme," that was developed by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy and UNDP to facilitate country's transition to green economy. As part of the project, Kazakhstan launched Solar Resources Atlas, a web-based resource that contains open data of space distribution of Kazakhstan's solar resources. [31]

According to the Kazakh Minister for Investments and Development, state projects directed towards increasing energy efficiency result in approximately 3.5 billion tenge (US$9.55 million) in annual savings as of November 2018. [32]

Water use

In 2013, Kazakhstan adopted Green Economy Concept policy that sets effective water management as a priority in the transition to a green economy. The concept led to the joint project, “Supporting Kazakhstan’s Transition to a Green Economy Model”, developed by Kazakhstan in close cooperation with the UN and EU. The project aims to introduce new, effective ways of water infrastructure management, economic instruments of water supply and sanitation, and sustainable agriculture practices. [33]

International organizations

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy and the World Bank launched in January 2017 a new project aimed at designing and developing Kazakhstan's greenhouse gases (GHG) electronic reporting platform. The electronic platform (or “cadaster”) will enable the online submission of GHG data by Kazakhstan's major emitters. The project is expected to help create an accurate and reliable GHG database. [34]

Related Research Articles

Kazakhstan Republic in Central Asia

Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country largely located in Central Asia with the most western parts of it being located in Europe. It is the world's largest landlocked country, and the ninth-largest country in the world, with an area of 2,724,900 square kilometres (1,052,100 sq mi). Kazakhstan is the most dominant nation of Central Asia economically, generating 60% of the region's GDP, primarily through its oil and gas industry. It also has vast mineral resources.

Economy of Kazakhstan economy of the country

The economy of Kazakhstan is the largest in Central Asia in both absolute and per capita terms, but the currency saw a sharp depreciation between 2013 and 2016. It possesses oil reserves as well as minerals and metals. It also has considerable agricultural potential with its vast steppe lands accommodating both livestock and grain production. The mountains in the south are important for apples and walnuts; both species grow wild there. Kazakhstan's industrial sector rests on the extraction and processing of these natural resources.

Foreign relations of Kazakhstan

Foreign relations of Kazakhstan are primarily based on economic and political security. The Nazarbayev administration has tried to balance relations with Russia and the United States by sending petroleum and natural gas to its northern neighbor at artificially low prices while assisting the U.S. in the War on Terror. Kazakhstan is a member of the United Nations, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, North Atlantic Cooperation Council, Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and NATO's Partnership for Peace program. Kazakhstan established a customs union with Russia and Belarus, transformed into the Eurasian Economical Community then in 2015 into the Eurasian Economic Union. President Nazarbayev has prioritized economic diplomacy into Kazakhstan's foreign policy.

Nur-Sultan Capital of Kazakhstan

Nur-Sultan, previously named Astana from 1998 to 2019, is the capital city of Kazakhstan. In March 2019, it was renamed to Nur-Sultan after the departing Kazakh president, Nursultan Nazarbayev. It stands on the banks of the Ishim River in the northern portion of Kazakhstan, within the Akmola Region, though administered separately from the region as a city with special status. A 2017 official estimate reported a population of 1,029,556 within the city limits, making it the second-largest city in the country, behind Almaty, the capital from 1991 to 1997.

President of Kazakhstan head of state of the Republic of Kazakhstan

The president of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the head of state, commander-in-chief and holder of the highest office within the Republic of Kazakhstan. The powers of this position are described in a special section of the Constitution of Kazakhstan.

Human rights in Kazakhstan

Human rights in Kazakhstan are uniformly described as poor by independent observers. Human Rights Watch says that "Kazakhstan heavily restricts freedom of assembly, speech, and religion. In 2014, authorities closed newspapers, jailed or fined dozens of people after peaceful but unsanctioned protests, and fined or detained worshipers for practicing religion outside state controls. Government critics, including opposition leader Vladimir Kozlov, remained in detention after unfair trials. Torture remains common in places of detention."

Erlan Idrissov Kazakhstani politician

Erlan Abilfayizuly Idrissov was the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan 1999 to 2002 and 2012 to 2016. He previously served as Foreign Minister in the Government of Kazakhstan from 1999−2002.

Kazakhstan–United Kingdom relations Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Kazakhstan – United Kingdom relations were formally established on 19 January 1992. The UK opened an embassy in Kazakhstan in October 1992 and Kazakhstan opened an embassy in the UK in February 1996. Kazakhstan's relations with the West have greatly improved in the last few years as the Government has closely cooperated in the U.S.-led War on Terror. See also: Counter-terrorism in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan–United States relations Bilateral diplomatic relations

The United States and the Republic of Kazakhstan established diplomatic relations on December 16, 1991. The United States opened its embassy in Almaty in January 1992 and then relocated to Nur-Sultan in 2006.

Energy policy of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan owns large reserves of energy resources, and therefore the energy policy of Kazakhstan has influence over the world's overall energy supply. Although Kazakhstan has not described itself as an energy superpower, Kazakhstan's former president Nursultan Nazarbayev has claimed Kazakhstan will become a factor of energy security in Asia and Europe. Kazakhstan has a strategic geographical location to control oil and gas flows from Central Asia to East (China) and West.

Women in Kazakhstan are women who live in or are from Kazakhstan. Their position in society has been and is influenced by a variety of factors, including local traditions and customs, decades of Soviet regime, rapid social and economic changes and instability after independence, and new emerging Western values.

Expo 2017

Expo 2017 Astana was an International Exposition which took place from June 10 to September 10, 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan. The expo's theme was "Future Energy", and aimed to create a global debate between countries, nongovernmental organizations, companies and the general public on the crucial question: "How do we ensure safe and sustainable access to energy for all while reducing CO2 emissions?"

Kazakhstan–European Union relations Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and European Union

European Union–Kazakhstan relations are the international relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the common foreign policy and trade relations of the European Union.

Astana Economic Forum organization

The Astana Economic Forum (AEF) is an international and regional platform for dialogue and a non-profit organization headquartered in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. It was organized by the Eurasian Economic Club of Scientists Association and the Government of Kazakhstan in 2008. After a decade the forum is taking on an additional name - The Global Challenges Summit - to reflect the topics and draw of attendees from around the world. Since 2015 the Forum is organized by the Economic Initiatives Fund of Kazakhstan, which is a part of the Economic Research Institute under the Ministry of National Economy. A meeting is held each year in Nur-Sultan in which more than eight thousand delegates from one hundred countries are brought together: They include chief executive officers of businesses, politicians, journalists, scientists and Nobel Prize laureates.

Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced the Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy during his annual state of the nation address on December 15, 2012. The 2050 Strategy calls for widespread economic, social and political reforms to position Kazakhstan among the top 30 global economies by 2050.

Nurly Zhol is a $9 billion domestic economic stimulus plan to develop and modernize roads, railways, ports, IT infrastructure, and education and civil services in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Nurly Zhol plan was announced by Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev in November 2014.

There is enormous potential for renewable energy in Kazakhstan, particularly from wind and small hydropower plants. The Republic of Kazakhstan has the potential to generate 10 times as much power as it currently needs from wind energy alone. But renewable energy accounts for just 0.6 percent of all power installations. Of that, 95 percent comes from small hydropower projects. The main barriers to investment in renewable energy are relatively high financing costs and an absence of uniform feed-in tariffs for electricity from renewable sources. The amount and duration of renewable energy feed-in tariffs are separately evaluated for each project, based on feasibility studies and project-specific generation costs. Power from wind, solar, biomass and water up to 35 MW, plus geothermal sources, are eligible for the tariff and transmission companies are required to purchase the energy of renewable energy producers. An amendment that introduces and clarifies technology-specific tariffs is now being prepared. It is expected to be adopted by Parliament by the end of 2014. In addition, the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business indicator shows the country to be relatively investor-friendly, ranking it in 10th position for investor protection.

Astana International Financial Centre

The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) is a financial hub in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan that officially launched on July 5, 2018.

Science and technology in Kazakhstan outlines government policies to develop science, technology and innovation in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan and the United Nations

The Republic of Kazakhstan became a member of the UN on March 2, 1992. Membership in the international organization has given Kazakhstan, in the context of globalization, the opportunity to participate fully in international cooperation and solving international problems of a political, economic, environmental, social, cultural and humanitarian character.

References

  1. ↑ "Conception of Kazakhstan on transition to green economy". Kazcontent. Archived from the original on 2014-07-19. Retrieved 2013-11-20.
  2. ↑ "Green Technologies Learning Centre Kicks off to Support Transition to Green Economy". astanatimes.com.
  3. 1 2 "Kazakhstan Sets Prices for Energy from Renewable Sources". Bloomberg News.
  4. 1 2 "Kazakhstan tackles its electronic waste problem". UNDP. Retrieved 2015-10-05.
  5. ↑ "UNDP, Kazakh Government implement emissions abatement project in country's 15 cities". www.inform.kz.
  6. 1 2 "Nazarbayev Signs Law to Promote Green Economy Development". astanatimes.com.
  7. ↑ "EIB Provides EUR 200m To Support Green Projects In Kazakhstan". blueandgreentomorrow.com.
  8. ↑ "President approves Kazakhstan transition to 'green economy'". Kazakhstan Chamber of Commerce in the USA.
  9. ↑ "Key things to know on renewable energy projects' implementation in Kazakhstan". thelawyer.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-06. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  10. ↑ "Kazakhstan to use one third of its wastes to generate 'green' energy". Tengrinews.
  11. ↑ "Wind generators in NKazakhstan". bnews.kz. Archived from the original on 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  12. ↑ "Wind power stations in South Kazakhstan". strategy2050.kz.
  13. ↑ "KazAgroFinance adopts financing of renewable energy program in agriculture". strategy2050.kz.
  14. ↑ "Kazakhstan plans new renewable energy facilities". www.globalconnections.hsbc.com.
  15. ↑ "Bisol installed 2 MW solar power plant". www.bisol.com.
  16. ↑ "Law on the transition to a green economy presented in Kazakhstan". www.lexology.com.
  17. ↑ "Green Bridge Partnership Programme 2011-2020". United Nations.
  18. 1 2 "OSCE Programme Office in Astana promotes regional Green Bridge Partnership Programme". www.osce.org.
  19. ↑ "OSCE supports platform for promoting best practices and innovations for a green economy in Kazakhstan". www.osce.org.
  20. ↑ http://www.bnews.kz/en/news/post/172282/
  21. ↑ "AIFC develops regulatory framework to grow green finance". astanatimes.com.
  22. 1 2 "Supporting Kazakhstan's Transition to a Green Economy Model". kz.undp.org.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Construction of Green Housing Begins in Astana". www.astanatimes.com.
  24. ↑ "EBRD welcomes green economy drive in Kazakhstan". EBRD. Archived from the original on 2013-11-20. Retrieved 2013-11-20.
  25. ↑ "EBRD to finance energy saving project in E Kazakhstan". www.inform.kz.
  26. ↑ "The Green Climate Fund allocates $110 million to Kazakhstan for clean energy projects". Climate Action Programme.
  27. 1 2 "Kazakhstan to launch over 100 renewable energy facilities by 2020". Trend.
  28. ↑ "Kazakhstan pushes transition to green economy with help from adb, clean energy fund". The Astana Times.
  29. ↑ "Kazakhstan raises capacity of renewable energy facilities" (in Russian). 2016-06-16. Retrieved 2016-07-12.
  30. ↑ "Kazakhstan to Continue Green Energy Development Regardless of Oil Prices". finance.yahoo.com.
  31. ↑ "Atlas of solar resources presented in Kazakhstan". www.kz.undp.org.
  32. ↑ "Kazakh government transitions to green economy". astanatimes.com.
  33. ↑ "Top News: Women Run About 700,000 Kazakh Enterprises Top News: Opening of Kazakhstan's First McDonald's Draws Big Crowds, High Officials Top News: Elections Are Barometers of Public Opinion, Monitoring Expert Says Top News: Almaty's Winter Universiade 2017 Reaches Record Number of Participating Countries Top News: Hundreds Attend Kazakh Food Festival in New York City l r Water Use Key to Launch of Kazakhstan's Transition to Green Economy". astanatimes.com.
  34. ↑ "Kazakhstan Develops Online Platform for Greenhouse Gases Reporting". www.worldbank.org.
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