Energy and Economy

 

Canadian Condor Energies Signs Agreement with Uzbekneftegaz to Boost Gas Production

On January 31, Canada-based energy company Condor Energies signed a production enhancement agreement with Uzbekistan’s state-owned energy company Uzbekneftegaz to jointly increase output at eight producing gas condensate fields in Uzbekistan. According to the agreement, Condor will be implementing advanced technologies and operating techniques similar to those used in Western Canada. Operations are expected to commence in the first quarter of 2024, once the feasibility studies are finished.

Source: The Times of Central Asia, Investing.com

Türkiye’s BOTAŞ Discusses Natural Gas Delivery with Turkmenistan

On January 29, officials from Turkish energy company BOTAŞ held meetings with Turkmen government officials and a delegation from Turkmengaz to discuss the transportation of gas from Turkmenistan to Türkiye. BOTAŞ expressed its “determination and desire to deliver Turkmen gas to Türkiye” and “the importance of maintaining constant communication between the two state-owned companies in order to bring Turkmen gas to the Turkish and the world markets.”

Source: BOTAŞ

Kazakhstan and Australia to Co-Chair IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security

On May 20-24, in Vienna, Australia and Kazakhstan will jointly host the International Conference on Nuclear Security. This event will bring together more than 2000 nuclear security experts from 178 International Atomic Energy Agency member-states. Kazakhstan and Australia will be tasked with negotiating the final document of the conference- the ICONS-2024 Ministerial Declaration.

Source: Astana Times

Turkmenistan Sends 2000 Tons of Gas to Kyrgyzstan

After an explosion at one of Kyrgyzstan’s thermal power plants on February 2, Turkmenistan is sending 57 tank railcars with 2000 tons of liquified gas to Kyrgyzstan. After the explosion, Kazakhstan also agreed to increase the supply of electricity from its Zhambyl power plant to support Kyrgyzstan’s energy sector. Engineers from Russia have arrived in Bishkek to help rebuild and repair the power plant. 

Source: The Times of Central Asia

Meeting of Eurasian Economic Union Takes Place in Kazakhstan

On February 2, the heads of government of the five Eurasian Economic Union member states, which include Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Belarus, met in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The meeting was chaired by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Pashinyan’s chairmanship came after Armenia’s passing on its turn to chair the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

Source: ArmenPress

Security and Politics

 

Olzhas Bektenov Becomes the New Prime Minister of Kazakhstan

Olzhas Bektenov was nominated as the next Prime Minister of Kazakhstan by the Amanat party on February 6. His candidacy was debated during a plenary session of the Majilis, Kazakhstan's parliament, and he was approved by a vote of a vote of 69-7, marking him the new Prime Minister of Kazakhstan. For the past ten months, Bektenov has served as President Kasym Jomart Tokayev's chief of staff. Under his new role, Bektenov will focus on the country’s economic development, prioritizing the industry, technologies, and oil sectors.

Source: Astana Times

President Tokayev Accepts Government Resignation

President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the acceptance of the government’s resignation on February 5, appointing Deputy Prime Minister Roman Skylar as the acting Prime Minister. The reason for the cabinet’s resignation has not been disclosed. 

Source: US News

Serbia and Azerbaijan Sign Military Cooperation Plan

Azerbaijan and Serbia’s Defense Ministries signed a bilateral military cooperation plan at the International Military Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Defense. This is set to deepen the defense and security partnership of Baku and Belgrade. In December 2023, Azerbaijan signed a €311 million defense deal with Serbia on the purchase of 48 Serbian-made 155mm/52 NORA B52 self-propelled howitzers.

Source: Defense Mirror, News.Az

Türkiye And Russia to Meet to Discuss Grain Deals 

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced on February 4 that Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Türkiye to visit his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The meeting’s discussions, expected to take place next week, will primarily focus on finding a new approach to facilitate the transport of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.

Source: US News

Armenia and Azerbaijan Meet for Border Delineation Talks

On January 31, Azerbaijani and Armenian officials met for another round of bilateral talks on border delineation, the sixth of their kind. The two sides released identical statements following the meeting, but they shed little light on any possible progress.  

Source: RFE/RL 

Source: RFE/RL

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Address Border Issues and Water Security

On February 1, the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Alikhan Smailov, and the Chairman of Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers, Akylbek Japarov, met in Almaty to discuss border checkpoints and water security. Both countries will work together to open additional checkpoints for transit on their shared border. They also discussed their water and energy security issues. 

Source: The Times of Central Asia

President Rahmon Announces Large-Scale Border Agreement with Kyrgyzstan

Following a February 5 meeting of President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev, Rahmon’s official website announced an agreement with Kyrgyzstan had been reached addressing 196 kilometers of the border between the two countries, roughly 90% of their undelimitated border. The agreement comes as a result of four months of meetings between the two sides, shortly after it seemed tensions were rising again. In 2022, fighting erupted between Kyrgyz and Tajik forces on the border, killing over 100 security personnel and civilians.

Source: AKIPress

Georgia Intercepts Cargo with Explosives on the Russian Border

The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) announced that it seized a special explosive device and a large amount of explosive material during an operational search on the border between Georgia and Russia. The SSSG says the explosives were shipped from the Ukrainian city of Odesa, transported through Romania, Bulgaria, and Türkiye, and then they were transported in a car to the Dariali border crossing in Georgia. Three Ukrainians and two Armenian citizens have been charged with transporting explosives within Georgia. 

Source: Civil.ge

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Meets with SCO Secretary General

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met with Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Zhang Ming on February 6 to discuss potential cooperation between Azerbaijan and the SCO. They also discussed Azerbaijan’s snap presidential elections on February 7, which will be held for the first time in the previously occupied territories. 

Source: Trend News Agency

Sources: AkiPress, ArmenPress, Astana Times, BOTAŞ, Civil.ge, Defense Mirror, Investing.com, News.Az, RFE/RL, The Times of Central Asia, Trend News Agency, US News