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CAN
EECCA and n-ost are inviting you to join the new
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form.
Floods in the regions
of Kazakhstan are caused by sudden snow melting
and river overflows, forcing thousands of people
to evacuate to safe places. At the same time,
questions arise about the effective use of melt
water to solve the problem of drought in summer,
but there is still no unanimity in the opinions
of water experts regarding the construction of
reservoirs and their potential effectiveness.
Experts offer different approaches, some see
reservoirs as a salvation from floods and a
resource for irrigation, while others believe
that it is necessary to focus on modernization
of existing facilities, fearing corruption
schemes in the construction of new
facilities.
Forest lands in
Tajikistan's Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast
are being revitalized, with the active
participation of local residents playing a key
role in this bottom-up approach. After the
energy crisis and forest degradation in the
1990s, joint forest management initiatives have
led to the restoration of more than 2,500
hectares of forest land. As a result, local
residents have received economic incentives from
forest plots, which has increased their
motivation to conserve and sustainably utilize
forest resources.
Water spillage from
unspecified causes during the construction of a
canal in northern Afghanistan has raised fears
in Central Asian countries. The Taliban are
actively pursuing the Kosh-Tepa project,
assuming it will help with the food problem, but
neighbors see it as a threat to the environment.
Satellite images show water leaking from the
canal, raising questions about the quality of
construction and possible consequences for
regional ecology and water
use.
The
Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan
(INECP) for Moldova was unveiled on April 1st in
Chisinau during a public debate held as part of
the national Moldenergy exhibition. Developed
with assistance from the EU-funded and
UNDP-implemented program ‘Addressing the Impact
of the Energy Crisis in Moldova,’ the Plan
outlines Moldova's commitment to achieving
energy security and climate change mitigation
goals. It sets ambitious targets, including a
27% share of renewable energy in final energy
consumption by 2030 and a reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions by 68.6% compared to
1990 levels, with measures focusing on energy
security, market efficiency, decarbonization,
and environmental restoration.
Kyrgyzstan plans to
lift the moratorium on uranium and thorium
mining introduced in 2019 after protests around
the Kyzyl-Ompol deposit. The Ministry of Natural
Resources initiated the bill, arguing that it is
necessary to diversify income sources, although
uranium mining can have a negative impact on the
environment and health. In turn, experts warn of
potential dangers to the biosphere and urge the
authorities to focus on developing more
environmentally friendly industries such as
tourism and renewable energy.
Uzbekistan faces
economic challenges due to a decline in natural
gas exports, notably to China, leading to a
significant decrease in revenue from January to
February 2024. While Uzbekistan reported lower
earnings, China's data showed higher export
totals, raising questions about the accuracy of
revenue figures. With gas exports historically
contributing to state revenue, Uzbekistan's
shift from exporter to importer underscores its
growing energy dependency and financial
strain.
Russian researchers
have reported a substantial oil spill in
Kazakhstan's Kashagan oil field, while the
operator, NCOC, denies any occurrence of such an
incident. The researchers, part of the
Transparent World of the Caspian Sea project,
attribute the spill to a potential production
mishap or accidental discharge from oil
platforms, though NCOC insists it's a "natural
phenomenon." Government officials are cautious,
with the Energy Minister stating that the spill
is "preliminarily not confirmed," pending
analysis of water samples. Despite past
environmental violations by NCOC, including a
recent fine for regulatory breaches, the company
maintains its adherence to environmental
standards amidst ongoing scrutiny.
Hundreds gathered in
Tbilisi's Mziuri Park on March 30 to celebrate
International Zero Waste Day, organized by the
Caucasus Environmental NGOs Network (CENN). The
event featured interactive activities promoting
sustainable practices, including games, quizzes,
and a business fair showcasing eco-friendly
initiatives by Georgian companies. Participants
also engaged in clothes and book exchanges and
utilized recycling and separation stations,
highlighting the importance of waste management
and public involvement.
Zhetysu Wolfram, with
co-ownership by Chinese Jiaxing International
Resources Investment Ltd., is set to produce
wolfram ore in Kazakhstan's Bugytinskoye field
in the Almaty region, as announced by the
Ministry of Industry and Construction.
Construction of an enrichment facility is
underway, with mining operations already in
progress; upon completion by late 2024, the
project is expected to generate around 1,000 new
jobs. The company plans to produce 3.3 million
tons of wolfram ore annually, with future aims
to enhance processing capabilities for the
production of high-grade tungsten carbide, as
part of a long-term industrial production
initiative that began in 2015 and is slated to
continue until 2040.
The
OSCE Risk Assessment, "The Effects of the Crisis
in Afghanistan on Central Asia’s Energy Sector,"
presents a comprehensive analysis of the
implications of Afghanistan’s regime change for
energy stakeholders in Central Asia and regional
energy co-operation. It highlights key
developments in Afghanistan's energy landscape
since 2021, identifies ongoing and emergent
risks for energy trade with Central Asia, and
analyzes the prospects of key regional
infrastructure projects such as TUTAP, TAP,
CASA-1000, and TAPI. Hence, the study offers
recommendations to practitioners from OSCE
participating States on enhancing regional
energy security and the well-being of the people
in Central Asia and Afghanistan in the
foreseeable future.
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