Tajikistan’s Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan, Daler Juma, participated in the first meeting of the energy ministers of Central Asia’s nations, which took place in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, on August 6.        

Chaired by Kazakhstan’s Minister of Kazakhstan Almsadam Satkaliyev, the event was reportedly attended by Taalbek Ibrayev, the Minister of Energy of Kyrgyzstan, Daler Juma, the Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan, Zhurabek Mirzamakhmudov, the Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan, Batyr Rejepov, the Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary of Turkmenistan to Kazakhstan, and Orkhan Zeynalov, the Deputy Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan. 

Kazakhstan’s media reports say that opening the meeting, the minister of energy of Kazakhstan noted the enormous potential in the development of energy cooperation and in strengthening existing ties between the countries of Central Asia.

According to him, today, among the challenges faced by the Central Asian countries are the global disruption of the stability of energy supplies, fluctuations in oil and gas prices and other factors.

“In order to ensure the reliability of energy supplies, it is necessary to develop mechanisms for forecasting and managing these challenges, as well as strengthen cooperation between our countries,” Satkaliyev said.

He also called on his colleagues to step up work on expanding opportunities for energy trade, as well as to establish the development of a low-carbon direction, achieving carbon neutrality and a phased energy transition.

He recalled that Kazakhstan is currently launching a global project in the field of development and transfer of green energy with Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, and is actively discussing the construction of a large-scale Kambarata Hydro Power Plant -1 with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Meanwhile the press center of the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan (MoEWR) says that speaking at the meeting, Daler Juma highlighted the ongoing project aimed at rejoining Tajikistan’s energy system to the Central Asian unified power grid.   

He noted that in early June of this year, the energy system in the southwestern part of Tajikistan was successfully connected to the Central Asian unified power grid, enhancing the reliability of the regional power grid.

News Central Asia (nCa) reports that following the meeting, the participants signed a communique, confirming their shared commitment to strengthening cooperation and expand opportunities for energy trade, stimulating the development of modern energy infrastructure.

The parties reportedly support enhanced cooperation among Central Asian nations in energy development. This includes expanding partnerships in traditional energy sources like oil, gas, and petroleum products, as well as in renewable energy such as hydropower, solar, and wind power.  They also pledge to advancing cooperation in nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and promoting green technology initiatives.

In addition, the parties expressed their readiness to establish an exchange of experience and cooperation in the field of digital transformation of the electric power industry.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the heads of the energy ministries of Central Asian countries signed a communiqué, laying the foundation for further successful cooperation on all key issues between the nations.  The communique provides for the plans to work on the implementation of smart power grids and electricity storage systems, aimed at improving the quality of electricity management in the region.

The parties agreed to establish a permanent energy dialogue, create a working body and hold regular meetings of energy ministers.