Astana and Washington draft a joint action plan in the realm of energy
March 11-12 Washington hosted 5th sitting of the Joint Kazakh-US Committee for Energy Cooperation which was attended by a Kazakh delegation of energy sector officials headed by Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Sauat Mynbayev.
Prior to the sitting of the Committee, S. Mynbayev had a meeting with Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman; the sides pointed to the large scale and effectiveness of the bilateral energy cooperation, stressing the growing mutual interest to further expansion of interaction and lauding the activeness of US business at the Kazakh market. The two ministers agreed that it is important to further strengthen Kazakh-US energy dialogue.
At the sitting of the Committee, the sides dwelt on the current situation and prospects of cooperation in O&G, electric power industry, environment protection, and use of alternative sources of energy and commercial nuclear technologies, as well as safety of energy facilities. The sitting resulted in a protocol which defines major vectors of interaction between Kazakhstan and the USA in the energy realm for the nearest year.
As S. Mynbayev noted in the course of the sitting, the dialogue maintained since 2001 within the joint Committee is a unique opportunity to discuss both current issues and future prospects of cooperation between the two nations along all the vectors of energy cooperation. Energy Partnership Declaration signed in the course of the Kazakh President’s visit to the USA defines energy cooperation as a key element of strategic relations between the two nations.
Besides, in the course of the visit S. Mynbayev met Steven Mann, the Eurasian energy diplomacy coordinator at the US State Department. The sides pointed to the strengthening part played by Kazakhstan as an important player in the global energy market. S. Mann stressed the achievements in the energy realm where as he believes Kazakhstan is less relying on outside expertise and is pursuing a mature policy.
Kazakh-US partnership and further efforts to strengthen it were major issues discussed at a meeting of the Kazakh delegation with US Congressmen. In the course of the meeting, creation of the Friends of Kazakhstan Caucus within the US Congress was announced. The group is co-chaired by representatives of both Democratic and Republican parties, namely by Representative Shelly Berkley (D - NV) and Representative Robert Aderholt (R - AL). This fully reflects the spirit of the open and friendly cooperation of Kazakhstan with the two leading US parties.
The Kazakh Energy Minister’s visit was of interest to US business community, notably energy companies. The round-table discussion facilitated by the US-Kazakh Business Association was attended by representatives of such majors as Chevron, ConocoPhilips, General Electric, Baker Hughes, Halliburton and some others. The Kazakh Minister detailedly informed them on key vectors of Kazakhstan’s energy policy, outlining major priorities in the sector development and briefing on the measures taken to enhance investment climate in Kazakhstan in pursuance of instructions voiced by President Nazarbayev in his annual address to the nation. In their turn, US businessmen pointed to the attractiveness of the Kazakh market and expressed their intention to further expand their operations in Kazakhstan.
According to S. Mynbayev, the Kazakh delegation’s visit enabled to “synchronize the clocks” in energy realm and was another testament to diversity of relations between the two nations based on friendly ties and mutual interests.
Kazinform
Documents
- National Laws and Decrees of the Kazakhstan President
- Government Regulations and Prime Minister Instructions
- Government Programs
- Public speeches of the Prime Minister and members of the Government
