QAZAQ GREEN. The 7th Uralsk Green Forum took place in Uralsk on September 20, 2024, focusing on “Climate Change:Challenges and Prospects of Advanced Technologies.” Organized by Karachaganak Petroleum Operating b.v. and the Akimat of West Kazakhstan region, the event gathered industry leaders to explore pathways for sustainable development.

The forum's sessions covered critical topics like energy efficiency, decarbonisation, and environmental start-ups. A key session on “Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation” was moderated by Andrey Kuznetsov, Development Engineering Manager at Karachaganak Petroleum Operating b.v..

Forum speaker Ainur Sospanova, Chairperson of the Board of the Qazaq Green RES Association, outlined the complexities of Kazakhstan's energy network, split into three zones: north, south, and west. While the north and south zones are connected, the west, including West Kazakhstan region, is linked to the main energy grid only via Russia. This disconnection limits the integration of renewable energy in the western region.

Sospanova highlighted that Kazakhstan’s renewable energy potential is immense, especially in wind, solar, and small-scale hydropower. She pointed out the state's supportive policies for investors, including 20-year contracts for electricity purchase from renewable energy producers. Direct agreements between producers and consumers are becoming more popular, particularly in the oil and gas sector.

She also emphasized the untapped potential of distributed small-scale generation, such as rooftop solar plants, which could provide autonomous power to oil and gas companies operating in remote areas, including shift camps and field households.

The forum attracted key participants from the Ministries of Ecology and Natural Resources, Energy of Kazakhstan, and private sector leaders in green energy. The event’s goal was to foster collaboration between different sectors to implement the Green Economy Concept and promote sustainable technologies for the region's future development.