EU-funded project sets basis for EU-Kazakhstan collaboration in the field of Clean Coal and CO2 Storage Solutions

One day before, on 23 October, a scientific seminar on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and renewable energy systems in Kazakhstan was held at the Nazarbayev University.

"The ACCESS project was launched under the umbrella of the Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Energy, signed between the EU and Kazakhstan in 2006. Kazakhstan is among the world's top coal-producers, and coal remains the primary energy source of the country. Kazakhstan announced its firm intentions to follow 'green economy' path and I am confident that sharing experiences in Clean Coal Technology and Carbon Capture and Storage areas will significantly contribute to the sustainable development of the coal based energy sector and industry in Kazakhstan," - said Ambassador Aurelia Bouchez, Head of the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan.

A number of case studies have been developed throughout the project, including on air quality and emission abatement technologies at the Sevkazenergo Power Plant; modeling the impact on air quality and cost-benefit analysis of the end-of-pipe emission abatement technologies in a coal-fired power plant in Petropavlovsk. A special report was prepared on the potential of CCS in the greenhouse gas mitigation portfolio of Kazakhstan. For companies, ACCESS project offered analyses of cost effectiveness of implementing capture technologies at power plants.  Besides, ACCESS assessed the potential for improving coal treatment technologies for coal in Kazakhstan. The case studies were provided together with recommended methodology for tackling these issues, covering environmental assessments and economic considerations.

Through the research, the seminars and the network expansion, the project team also identified the specific challenges faced by Kazakhstani industry and what needs to be done further.

Such issues as characterization and beneficiation of Kazakh coal, development of the use of enhanced coal bed methane extraction, analyses of the opportunity for CCS and development of a roadmap for CCS, economic assessment and program for power plant refurbishments in Kazakhstan still need to be researched, the press service of the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan said.