ASTANA – Kazakh Energy Minister Kanat Bozumbayev and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette signed an agreement Aug. 28 in Astana to cooperate on nuclear energy.
“I am honoured to join Minister Bozumbayev in signing this joint statement, which chronicles the joint cooperative efforts of our two nations as co-chairs of the U.S.-Kazakhstan Energy Partnership and underscores our commitment to continue to work together to enhance our energy and national securities and our economic growth,” Brouillette said.
Both countries support universal access to affordable and reliable energy and recognise the importance of open, competitive markets for improving energy security.
“The U.S. and Kazakhstan will work together to advance civil nuclear power that is safer and more secure from proliferation, recognising its importance as a zero-emissions, baseload source for electricity,” Brouillette said.
On climate change, the countries adhere to a balanced approach that supports innovation, lower greenhouse gas emissions, economic growth and stronger energy security.
“Our cooperation and dialogue will focus on cooperation in such areas as the peaceful use of nuclear energy, containment of carbon dioxide, sustainability of energy systems, opening and expansion of energy markets, as well as the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and security. We wrote here that the co-chairs welcome the initiative for cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, which serves the interests of Kazakh-American energy cooperation. The parties are considering the possibility of attracting Kazakh investment in the U.S.,” Bozumbayev said.
According to the minister, the Kazakh side hopes to continue joint work on decommissioning of the BN-350 reactor to ensure radiation safety of the regions and strengthen the non-proliferation regime.
“We propose to consider the possibility of cooperation and support of the International Centre for Development of Green Technologies, which is created on the basis of EXPO 2017,” he added.
Bozumbayev also focused attention on the restrictions imposed by the U.S. on Russia.
“Sanctions will not affect the effective implementation of oil and gas projects involving both American and Kazakh capital, and will allow the unimpeded transport of energy resources to world markets through transit pipelines and gas pipelines. We agreed to work together in this direction,” he concluded.
Brouillette also invited Bozumbayev to Washington for the launch of the U.S.- Kazakhstan Strategic Energy Dialogue, where the parties will develop a work plan for collaboration in 2018 and beyond.
