IV EURASIAN ENERGY FORUM OPENS IN ASTANA

Astana, 24 September: At the opening of the IV Eurasian Energy Forum in Astana today, Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Karim Massimov highlighted the successes of Kazakhstan in the oil and gas sector and emphasized that Kazakhstan had proved itself a reliable supplier of hydrocarbons to global markets.  

“The Government of Kazakhstan has been consistently developing private-public partnership in the O&G sector” said Mr Massimov. “We have been gradually diversifying transport routes; works to modernize the Central Asia – Center gas transportation system and the Atyrau-Samara oil pipeline are underway. Infrastructure of such fundamental routes as BTC and the main line running to China has been enhanced. Works are also underway to improve operations of Aktau and Kuryk Caspian Sea ports to boost oil shipments from Kazakhstan” said the Prime Minister.

Mr Massimov also spoke of the efforts taken by Kazakhstan in the realm of climate change: “Kazakhstan has joined the Kyoto Protocol. This year the country will attend the Copenhagen Forum… Kazakhstan has also been taking concrete steps to develop alternative energy sources. In July we adopted a law to support renewable energy sources which puts in place the required legal framework to progress” said the Prime Minister.  

“Kazakhstan can become a key player at the global nuclear markets”, said Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Sauat Mynbayev at the Forum this morning. “There is unanimous agreement that the nuclear industry is the only way to meet growing demand for energy. According to estimates, the number of nuclear reactors is to increase nearly threefold by 2050. Kazakhstan will embrace the global trend.

With its vast natural uranium resources and production of nuclear fuel components, Kazakhstan can be a key player at the global nuclear markets” said Mr Mynbayev.

The Minister reminded Forum participants that Kazakhstan is second in terms of natural uranium resources - with a highly effective method of in-situ leaching being employed.

The 4th Eurasian Energy Forum KAZENERGY takes place today and tomorrow at Astana’s Palace of Independence. The Forum – with a tagline this year of ‘Global Challenges & Strategic Alliances’ – provides a unique, timely, in-depth assessment for decision-makers on industry shifts that will impact on all governments, companies, investors, financiers etc.

The 4th Forum unites over 800 of the most influential professionals in the energy industries and more than 55 top-level speakers (including Dick Cheney and Gerhard Schroeder). The Forum is part of ‘Kazakhstan Energy Week 2009’ which also sees the 4th Kazakhstan Oil & Gas Awards taking place tomorrow (Thursday, 24th) in the Norman Foster-designed Palace of Peace & Accord. The Awards acknowledge and celebrate business excellence across Kazakhstan’s energy industries.