Headlines from the Caspian: November 9, 2026

Energy and Economy

Kazakhstan Looking to Build Strategic Nuclear Storage Reserve by 2050

Kazakhstan’s state nuclear company Kazatomprom is reviewing six areas for nuclear reserves that could supplement Kazakhstan’s planned nuclear power plants for 100 years, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during his November 3 address to the nation. Tokayev stated that the country is aiming to have at least 150,000 tons of uranium in storage by 2050, with a mix of nuclear fuel and physical stockpiles of unprocessed uranium.  

Source: World Nuclear News

Kazakhstan Requests Resumption of Oil Exports to Germany via Druzhba Pipeline

Kazakhstan has formally requested that Russia resume the transit of Kazakh oil to Germany through the Druzhba pipeline, following a six-month suspension that began in May. On November 4, Kazakh Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov confirmed that Kazakhstan has the technical capacity to resume shipments and is awaiting Russia's response. Kazakhstan exported 2.1 million tons of crude oil to Germany's Schwedt refinery through the pipeline in 2025, with plans to increase deliveries to approximately 3 million tons in 2026. 

Source: The Times of Central Asia 

Uzbekistan Seeks Chinese Fuel Supplies Amid Decline in Russian Imports

Uzbekistan's state-owned energy company, Uzbekneftegaz, is reportedly negotiating with Chinese companies, including PetroChina, to secure alternative supplies of gasoline, diesel, and crude oil following a sharp decline in imports from Russia. Russia, which previously accounted for approximately 85–90 percent of Uzbekistan's gasoline imports, reportedly saw its monthly deliveries fall from 141.8 million liters in April to 11.4 million liters in August, partly due to disruptions at Russian refineries caused by Ukrainian drone strikes. Uzbekistan is also considering plans to double the annual processing capacity of its Bukhara refinery to strengthen domestic fuel production.

Source: Gazeta.uz

SOCAR Acquires $1.65 Billion Stake in U.S. Company Comstock

Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR acquired a $1.65 billion stake in Comstock, an American natural gas company. The agreement, signed on November 4 but awaiting government approval and other finalizations, would give SOCAR a 20 percent stake in the upstream assets of the Legacy Haynesville project and a 15 percent stake in the upstream assets of the Western Haynesville project. SOCAR would also acquire a 15 percent share of Comstock’s 73 percent stake in Pinnacle Gas Services LLC.

Source: OC Media

Iran to Carry Out Massive Expansion of Caspian Port

Iran's Anzali Free Zone Organization has announced plans to construct three new berths at the Caspian Port Complex, alongside €4 million in private-sector investment in new port equipment. The Golden Line Company has dedicated 5.2 million hemats to build two new berths, while the Anzali Free Zone Organization has contributed 1.5 million hemat for a new wharf. The expansions will increase port capacity and improve transport times between the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf as the wars in Ukraine and Iran have given covert Russian-Iranian trade on the inland sea much greater importance.

Source: Anzali Free Zone 

Politics and Security

Armenia, Azerbaijan, and United States Launch Working Groups to Advance TRIPP

On November 7, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the United States launched trilateral technical working groups to advance the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), building on agreements reached at the August 2025 Washington peace summit. The working groups will initially focus on transportation infrastructure and electricity transmission, bringing together government officials and technical experts to address implementation challenges. The initiative was launched with the participation of U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Brendan Hanrahan, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov, and Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan.

Source: AnewZ 

Chinese Vice President Visits Georgia Ahead of UN Climate Summit in Türkiye

Vice President Han Zheng became the highest-level Chinese official to visit Georgia earlier this week, stopping enroute to Türkiye to speak with Georgian leaders. Zheng met with President Mikheil Kavelashvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili to discuss expanding bilateral relations. The leaders discussed the important role of the Middle Corridor in supporting bilateral economic expansion and cooperation in education and artificial intelligence, and Georgia's intention to host the 2028 Silk Road Forum.

Source: Civil Georgia

Rahmon Concludes Official Visit to Astana

Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon concluded an official visit to Astana from November 5-7. There, he met with Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and the two leaders highlighted key areas of current and future cooperation, including bilateral trade, artificial intelligence, energy, and joint investment. The two signed a bilateral framework on the supply of fuel. Tokayev also voiced his support for Tajikistan’s candidacy for non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2028-2029. During the visit, Rahmon and Tokayev attended the opening of Tajikistan’s new embassy building in Astana. 

Source: Akorda, Qazinform, Times of Central Asia

Pashinyan Hints at EU Membership Application in 2027 or 2028

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the country could formally apply for European Union (EU) membership next year or the following year. He called the move “realistic,” adding that the country’s populace would make the decision. Pashinyan also claimed that EU membership would allow Armenia to safeguard democracy and reduce dependence on Russia, dismissing fears that Russia would invade the country in response to EU ascension. While Armenia has not established a target date for EU accession, Pashinyan indicated that the government aims to achieve visa liberalization with the EU by 2029, describing this as an important milestone in bilateral relations.

Source: Euronews

Kazakhstan and Jordan Co-Host Aqaba Process Summit on Regional Security and Counterterrorism

Kazakhstan and Jordan co-hosted the Aqaba Process Summit in Astana on November 5, bringing together Jordan's King Abdullah II, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and other Central Asian leaders to discuss regional security challenges and counterterrorism cooperation. The summit, co-hosted by Kazakhstan and Jordan, marked the first time the Aqaba Process had convened in Central Asia. Discussions focused on emerging threats associated with artificial intelligence, including extremist recruitment, terrorist financing, and the spread of extremist content online. During the summit, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed establishing a regional office of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism in Tashkent to strengthen coordination among Central Asian countries in combating terrorist financing and monitoring extremist content online. The UN Office already cooperates with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Tashkent-based Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure under a 2020 agreement.

Source: Astana Times, Qazinform, UZDaily

Starlink Saves Five Stranded People in Rural Kazakhstan

Five hunters, whose car was caught in a snow trap, were rescued in late October due to satellite communication via Starlink. The hunters had travelled around 15km from Kystau Kurchum, in eastern Kazakhstan, into an area without cell service in the mountains. Starlink has been fully available in Kazakhstan for slightly over a year, although SpaceX first began to provide internet service to Kazakhstan's schools in 2024.

Source: Teslarati, Teslarati The Astana Times

Armenia and Georgia restart border talks after a multiyear pause

Armenia and Georgia’s border commissions met in Yerevan on November 6 to resume work on defining their shared boundary. Deputy foreign ministers reviewed earlier protocols and discussed the legal steps needed to complete the process. The meeting reopened a negotiating channel that had been dormant for several years.

Sources: The Caspian Post, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Armenia