Foreign media on Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan, Oman discuss joint projects in transport and technology; Kazakhstan selects site to build its first nuclear plant

Trend News Agency: Kazakhstan, Oman discuss joint projects in transport and technology

Kazakhstan and Oman discussed joint projects in transport and technology, aiming to strengthen ties through direct air routes and collaborative initiatives during a meeting between Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi, Trend reports.

Welcoming Al-Busaidi, Tokayev described Oman as a reliable partner and expressed a commitment to deepening cooperation. He highlighted the potential to enhance interaction both bilaterally and on regional and international agendas.

Taking the opportunity, Tokayev conveyed greetings to Sultan Haitham bin Tariq and confirmed an invitation to visit Kazakhstan.

“Oman is highly respected in Kazakhstan. Your country generates great interest among our citizens, including businessmen and cultural figures. Therefore, we need to give a strong boost to make our cooperation more diverse and fruitful,” said Tokayev.

Al-Busaidi thanked Tokayev for the warm reception, emphasizing the high level of mutual respect between the countries.

“We are following the development of Kazakhstan with great interest. We are deeply impressed by the large-scale reforms aimed at the benefit of the country and its people. The rapid growth of Kazakhstan’s economy, its significant role in this region, and the key role the country plays in strengthening neighborly relations for the sake of peace and security are remarkable. We highly appreciate your foreign policy focused on justice and promoting global peace, security, and prosperity,” noted the diplomat.

The meeting also covered prospects for cooperation in transport, logistics, agriculture, digitalization, and cultural-humanitarian sectors. The leaders addressed establishing direct air connections to strengthen ties and exchanged views on regional security and multilateral cooperation.

Notably, this meeting marks the first official visit by Oman’s foreign minister to Kazakhstan since 2004, symbolizing a revival of bilateral relations.

Enerdata: Kazakhstan selects site in the Zhambyl district to build its first nuclear plant

The Kazakh Government has approved a site for the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant, Enerdata reports. According to a Government decree, the facility will be located in the Zhambyl district of the Almaty region, in southwestern Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan had held a referendum on the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant in early October 2024, for which over 71% of participants voted in favour. Four companies, namely CNNC (China), KHNP (South Korea), Rosatom (Russia), and EDF (France), have been shortlisted as potential technology suppliers for the construction of the nuclear plant. The Kazakh Ministry of Energy currently estimates that the plant could be built within eight years to be completed in the early 2030s.

Kazakhstan does not yet have nuclear capacity (the 52 MW Aktau nuclear facility opened in 1973 was closed in 1999 after the government joined the global non-proliferation agreement), but is the world’s first uranium producer, with 21.8 kt produced in 2023, and has the world’s second largest proved reserves of uranium with over 316 kt. Kazakhstan's Strategy 2050 targets 2 GW of nuclear capacity mix by 2050.

Reuters: Caspian pipeline oil exports on schedule, Kazakhstan says

According to Reuters, Kazakhstan’s oil exports remain on schedule through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) despite a recent drone attack damaging Russia’s Kropotkinskaya pumping station, Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev said Wednesday.

“So far there is no risk of a decrease in tanker loading volumes,” Satkaliyev stated, adding that oil storage capacity ensures stable operations. The CPC, which carries Kazakh and Russian oil to the Black Sea, is rerouting flows while repairs — expected to take two months — are underway.

Chevron, ExxonMobil, Lukoil, and KazMunayGas are among CPC’s shareholders. The pipeline delivered 63 million tons of oil in 2024, with exports reaching 9.8 million tons by February 23.

Kazakhstan, which recently exceeded its OPEC+ production quota, is working to meet its commitments. Satkaliyev also reiterated the country’s willingness to settle ongoing legal disputes with Western oil producers: “We have always declared this and confirm our readiness to resolve disputes within the framework of relevant agreements,” he said.

Forbes: Lessons from Kazakhstan’s transition to smart grids

Kazakhstan’s GDP grew 15% in 2023, reaching $260 billion, but rising energy demand is straining the grid, Forbes reports. While the government invests in alternative energy and nuclear power, the article emphasizes that advanced technologies are equally critical for energy stability.

It highlights Kazakhstan’s use of IoT, AI, and automation to build a smart grid as a valuable model for global energy systems.

A 2022 outage affecting Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan exposed aging infrastructure and weak regional coordination. Kazakhstan restored power in hours, while neighboring countries took days. The article notes that KEGOC is working to prevent such disruptions by developing an intelligent energy system by 2032.

Kazakhstan now uses IoT for real-time grid adjustments, reducing reliance on Russian imports. AI-powered systems improve forecasting, and wide area management systems enhance transmission while preventing emergencies.

Three essential factors for smart grid success are emphasized:

· Interoperability: Ensuring seamless communication between systems.

· Scalability: Allowing for continuous upgrades.

· Uniform Updates: Applying changes consistently across the network.

The article points out that all smart grid investments in Kazakhstan have come from local companies, with researchers and engineers driving key innovations.

While only a fraction of power plants are currently connected to the system, the article’s author believes full implementation will eliminate blackouts and serve as a global model for balancing economic growth and energy security.

Discoverwildlife.com: A weird antelope that looks like something out of Star Wars has reclaimed the remote Kazakhstan steppe

After decades of conservation work, over 2.8 million saiga now roam Kazakhstan’s vast steppe, Discoverwildlife.com reports. These unique antelopes, with their distinctive bulbous noses, can run up to 120 kph — a survival trait from when Asiatic cheetahs hunted them. But their recovery is a delicate balancing act.

Saiga populations plummeted to fewer than 50,000 by 2005 due to poaching, with males targeted for their horns used in traditional medicine. After hunting was banned in 1999 and conservation groups, including the Altyn Dala Initiative, stepped in, saiga numbers began to climb.

The government has ruled out culling, so conservationists are exploring alternatives — from scarecrows and fences to compensating farmers for losses. There’s also hope that reopening border fences with neighboring countries could give the saiga more room to roam.

Education is key, with Saiga Clubs in schools teaching children about the antelope’s cultural importance. “The steppe has turned from green to brown by June,” says Albert Salemgareyev from ACBK, highlighting that climate change, not just saiga, is worsening resource scarcity.

As the sun sets over the Kazakh steppe, herds of saiga thunder across the grasslands — a symbol of nature’s resilience. The road ahead may be complex, but for now, their survival is a remarkable conservation victory, the article concludes.

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