Almaty, Kazakhstan – Over 70 representatives of national energy ministries, energy companies, associations, international and regional partners, and energy students gathered at the Regional Conference “Gender and Energy in Central Asia”. The event, held on 17-18 October 2024, was organised jointly by the European Union (EU) through its project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)”, USAID Power Central Asia, and the GIZ project “H2-Diplo – Decarbonisation Diplomacy”.

Globally, women remain significantly underrepresented in the energy sector, accounting for only 22% of the workforce in oil and gas, and 32% in the renewable energy sector. This gender disparity is among the largest across industries worldwide.

Gender equality is a priority for the European Union, as indicated in its 2020-2025 Gender Equality Strategy. In the opening remarks, Dr Johannes Baur, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan, stated: “Cleaner energy sources and energy-efficient practices are crucial for an effective energy transition. At the same time, inclusivity and equality also play a key role in ensuring that the energy transition is truly effective, long-lasting and resilient. Central Asian countries have achieved remarkable progress in setting and pursuing ambitious climate neutrality and greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. Meeting these targets requires substantial investment and a skilled workforce. Currently, the global talent pool is insufficient, and Central Asia is no exception. Women and men, girls and boys each have specific needs and talents, and it is crucial to take these differences into account when designing policies, developing projects or launching new initiatives”.

During the conference, SECCA project experts presented the findings from the Gender-in-Energy Assessments conducted for each Central Asian country and the region as a whole. Leading female energy professionals from the region and beyond shared insights and experiences, while representatives from organisations such as EBRD, GIZ, and USAID discussed how gender is being integrated into development and financial projects and the results achieved so far.

SECCA Gender Specialist Ms Silvia Sartori noted: “There are some promising concepts and practices implemented by Central Asian countries. If applied effectively and scaled up regionally, they could make the energy sector more inclusive and gender-equal, contributing to more sustainable and resilient national economies. However, challenges remain, such as the lack of gender-disaggregated data, limited reference to gender in energy policies, and under-representation of women in the sector’s workforce. The expert presentations and discussions during this conference have brought us one step closer to addressing these challenges together.”

The Conference raised awareness and promoted dialogue at the regional level on the nexus between gender equality and clean energy. It also collected inputs on priority areas and specific needs to advance gender equality within the energy sector.

Astana, Kazakhstan – The European Union (EU)-funded SECCA project is assisting Central Asian (CA) countries in creating conditions and building capacity for more active participation in the EU’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. The project aims to maximise the programme’s impact in Central Asia by providing opportunities for networking, collaboration, and cross-border knowledge-sharing.

An initial study by SECCA experts on Kazakhstan’s potential to participate in Horizon Europe revealed that, while the country has significant research capacity, its universities face challenges in finding European partners, which is a prerequisite for participation as a third country. Many CA institutions cited this as one of the main barriers to their involvement in Horizon Europe.

To address this, SECCA has developed a user-friendly template for research organisations in Kazakhstan. This template is designed to highlight key capacities, research interests, and areas of expertise of interested universities in a structured manner. The Science Fund of Kazakhstan has disseminated this template among the country’s higher educational and research institutions. To date, SECCA has received more than 20 completed templates. The next step will involve SECCA assisting these institutions in improving their cooperation profiles and supporting their partner search for Horizon Europe calls.

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Read more about Horizon Europe here:

What is Horizon Europe?

How to participate?

Participation of CA countries.

Almaty, Kazakhstan – The first regional training on model-based energy and climate analysis organised by the European Union (EU) funded SECCA project took place on 24-27 September 2024. This event gathered young professionals from Central Asian countries to develop their skills in energy and climate strategic planning and modelling analyses. Participants were introduced to the fundamentals of energy modelling, which is crucial for shaping sustainable energy policies and responding to climate challenges.

A key aspect of this project initiative is to establish a Regional Group on Modelling consisting of two young professionals from each country to initiate country “modelling units”. The participants of this Group are specifically tasked to support the energy (and non-energy) data collection and analysis for quantitative model-based analyses, collect and interpret national energy and climate-related policies and factors, and provide feedback and ideas for the future developments of tools.

Mr Rocco De Miglio, SECCA Senior Modelling Expert, said: “This is part of SECCA’s broader effort to promote regional collaboration and knowledge sharing, as well as to improve local systems thinking and knowledge (data) based decision making in the energy and climate sectors. Generating practical impacts that go beyond the duration of the SECCA project is what we strive for by organising this and subsequent two more trainings for the regional group of young professionals. By the end of this project activity, the trainees will have a good understanding of the theoretical background of complex integrated energy and climate analyses, will be able to critically analyse model-based studies and reports and to formulate comments, and will be able to organise data and key factors for simple national and regional modelling exercises”.

During the training, the participants also learned about the EU’s main approaches to decarbonisation, as well as the EU Member States’ experience on preparation of and reporting under the National Energy and Climate Plan.

These regional trainings are a pivotal step in supporting strengthening of Central Asia’s response to climate change by empowering national experts to make informed decisions based on robust data and analysis.

Online – Throughout the implementation, the European Union funded SECCA has assessed the capacities of the Central Asia (CA) countries to develop national energy sector models and developed capacity-building plans. The first steps towards the implementation of these plans include (i) the set-up a Regional Group on energy modelling; and (ii) the delivery of three regional trainings to transfer the basic concepts and the theoretical and practical approaches, related to analysing and modelling complex energy systems at the national and regional level.

On 10 September 2024, the SECCA project experts and the members of this Regional Group – 2 young professionals from each beneficiary country – convened online for a preliminary meeting. The meeting aimed to introduce the general scope and structure of the trainings and initialise the process. It proceeded the First regional training, which is scheduled to take place on 24-27 September 2024 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

By convening this Regional Group, the SECCA project aims to initiate country “modelling units” and create a long-term bridge between the project activities and local decision makers and improve local systems thinking and knowledge (data) based decision making in the energy and climate sectors.

Following the completion of three regional trainings, the members of the Regional Group will have enhanced their knowledge and skills in the “fundamentals” of energy and climate strategic planning and modelling analyses, selection/collection/elaboration/utilisation of energy (and non-energy) statistics and data for quantitative analyses in the field of energy and climate.  

Astana, Kazakhstan – Energy Week Central Asia and Caspian 2024 took place on 5-6 September 2024 in Astana, focusing on the region’s green transition, reports Astana Times. The event featured in-depth discussions on policy and regulatory frameworks, financing renewable energy, and technology-specific projects, including solar photovoltaics, storage, wind energy, green hydrogen, and hydropower. The participants underscored the region’s substantial untapped renewable energy potential and favourable conditions.

The event was attended by representatives of the governments, international and regional organisations, diplomats, and business.

Addressing the participants, Aleska Simkic, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Kazakhstan, spoke of the crucial connection between energy and climate change and the EU’s dedication to advancing clean energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable solutions for communities, businesses, and industries throughout Europe, Kazakhstan, and Central Asia (CA). She pointed out the severe impacts of climate change experienced in Europe and CA, such as intense fires, floods, and environmental degradation: “We have witnessed the increasing frequency and impact of extreme weather events, and this region is no exception. The urgency of the energy transition is clear”.

In 2023, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) took effect in the EU with a two-year transition period. This mechanism is designed to ensure a fair distribution of the costs associated with the global green transition.

The Ambassador said in this regard: “We hope this transition period will allow for preparation and effective application of the new conditions. As Central Asian countries adopt new economic policies, we encourage them to anticipate the requirements needed to remain competitive in the EU market and to be also interoperable with the rules of the EU market. Compatibility with the CBAM, alignment with other green deal policies, and emission trading systems will be essential. Embracing green hydrogen and following EU green trends can enhance the competitiveness of Central Asian products in the EU market. Conversely, failure to adapt may impact their competitiveness”.

The EU-funded SECCA project was represented by Zhaxylyk Tokayev, the project’s National Coordinator in Kazakhstan, at the event. He presented on the development of renewable energy in the EU, as well as SECCA’s work in the CA region on improvement of energy efficiency and development of small renewable energy projects.

Astana, Kazakhstan – Kazakhstan appointed Ms Malika Tazhmuratova as a National Contact Point (NCP) for the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme cluster 5, which focuses on “Climate, Energy and Mobility”. Ms Tazhmuratova is the country manager at the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). As the NCP, she will serve as a primary point of contact for inquiries related to participation in the Horizon Europe initiatives and projects in the areas of climate change, sustainable energy, and sustainable mobility.

The EU’s SECCA project assists Kazakhstan and other countries of Central Asia to create pre-conditions and build capacities for more active participation in the Horizon Europe programme. It  has been working closely with the Science Fund of Kazakhstan to establish this NCP and will provide capacity building support to Ms Tazhmuratova to ensure she can effectively fulfil her role.

The network of NCPs is the main structure to provide guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe, including choosing the relevant topics and types of action, advising on administrative and contractual matters, training and assistance in proposal writing, assistance in partner search, and so on.

For contact details of Ms Tazhmuratova, please visit this page.

Kazakhstan – More than 350 representatives of line Ministries and local government bodies, principals of public schools and representatives of business attended the regional workshops on energy efficiency (EE), which were held in Aktau, Shymkent, and Turkestan from 22 to 26 July 2024.

These workshops were organised by the European Union funded SECCA project and the Institute for Development of Electric Power and Energy Saving (EEDI), with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In each city, SECCA and EEDI hosted two workshops: one focusing on energy efficient budgetary (public) institutions and other on increasing EE of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The Concept for Development of Energy Saving and Improvement of Energy Efficiency in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2023-2029 identifies five priority sectors – industry, energy, public sector, residential buildings, transport – where energy saving measures should be implemented first.

The Government pays particular attention to the industrial sector. Despite some steps taken towards improving EE of industry, the sector still accounts for more than a third of final energy consumption and high levels of greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, from 2014 to 2020, the buildings sector has steadily increased its energy consumption and has become the largest final energy consumer. The residential buildings sector has greater potential to reduce heat and electricity consumption, but the public buildings sector is an important intermediate step to subsequently replicate measures in the residential sector.

At the workshops, the SECCA experts presented on the European experience and best practices on improving EE, which can be applicable in Kazakhstan, and the national experts presented on the practical measures to reduce energy consumption. As a result, the participants improved their level of awareness and capacities on energy savings, energy efficiency, use of small renewable energy sources and energy management.

Workshop materials:

22 July 2024, 10h00       Energy efficient budgetary institutions of Aktau city

22 July 2024, 15h00       Increasing energy efficiency of SMEs in Mangistau region

24 July 2024, 10h00       Energy efficient budgetary institutions of Shymkent

24 July 2024, 15h00       Increasing energy efficiency of SMEs in Shymkent

26 July 2024, 10h00       Energy efficient budgetary institutions of Turkestan

26 July 2024, 15h00       Increasing energy efficiency of SMEs in Turkestan region

Issyk-Kul Region, Kyrgyz Republic –The experts of the European Union funded SECCA project and a representative of the Green Energy Fund of Kyrgyzstan visited the Karakol-1 Small Hydropower Plant (SHPP) project site. This visit followed the kick-off meeting on conducting a pre-feasibility study of a SHPP, which was held in Bishkek on 18  July 2024.

The Karakol-1 SHPP project was proposed for a model pre-feasibility study by the Green Energy Fund. It is to be developed on the site of the former Karakol HPP, which was in operation from 1948 to 1970. It is located in the Issyk-Kul region, at the Karakol River, 1 kilometer away from the region’s administrative capital Karakol city.

The model pre-feasibility study will cover the environmental impact assessment, technical feasibility assessment, legal analysis, economic viability analysis.

During the visit, the SECCA team also met with the representatives of the local government and inspected the extant civil structures of the Karakol HPP: headworks, open derivation canal, headpond, spillway, etc., and preliminarily identified 3 alternatives for the new project layout.

Background information:

Starting from May 2023, the SECCA project has been providing technical support to the Ministry of Energy and the Green Energy Fund of the Kyrgyz Republic in development of  renewable energy sources (RES). The necessary steps to be taken from RES policy development to project implementation were first introduced in one of the sessions of the Conference held within the First EU–Kyrgyzstan Sustainable Energy Days campaign; while practical aspects of small-scale RES development with a focus on small hydropower, through state-owned specialized Funds were presented in October 2023, at a technical workshop held in Bishkek. In November 2023, with the SECCA project’s support, the Kyrgyz Green Energy Fund signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Georgian Energy Development Fund (GEDF). In December 2023, SECCA and the Green Energy Fund agreed to develop a model pre-feasibility study for a SHPP. In February 2024, the Karakol-1 SHPP was pre-selected for the pre-feasibility study. On 18 July 2024, the meeting held by the Ministry of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Green Energy Fund and the SECCA project kicked off the joint work on the model pre-feasibility study for the selected SHPP.

Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic – A kick-off meeting “Conducting a Pre-Feasibility Study – the First Step to Develop Small Hydropower Projects” was held in Bishkek and gathered the national and international experts. The meeting was organised jointly by the Ministry of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Green Energy Fund under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, and the European Union (EU) funded SECCA project.

As part of the Kyrgyz Government’s plans to develop renewable energy sources, the country is re-discovering small hydropower (SHP). The government and private investors are building small hydropower plants (SHPP) across the country.

In December 2023, SECCA agreed with the Green Energy Fund to develop a model pre-feasibility study for a SHPP. For that, SECCA has set up a SHP team consisting of international and national experts. A pre-feasibility study is an important and integral part of SHP development. It is an early stage analysis to identify sites with enough hydraulic and economic potential. If the pre-feasibility study shows a positive base-case scenario, the investor will likely move on to the next stage, an in-depth feasibility study.

At the kick-off meeting, the representatives of SECCA presented their latest activities and plans in the field of SHP development. The experts considered the experience of the EU, the Kyrgyz Republic, and other Central Asian countries. The SHP team members presented their plans for the pre-feasibility study.

Meeting agenda and presentations

Background information:

Starting from May 2023, the SECCA project has been providing technical support to the Ministry of Energy and the Green Energy Fund of the Kyrgyz Republic in development of  renewable energy sources (RES). The necessary steps to be taken from RES policy development to project implementation were first introduced in one of the sessions of the Conference held within the First EU–Kyrgyzstan Sustainable Energy Days campaign; while practical aspects of small-scale RES development with a focus on small hydropower, through state-owned specialized Funds were presented in October 2023, at a technical workshop held in Bishkek. In November 2023, with the SECCA project’s support, the Kyrgyz Green Energy Fund signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Georgian Energy Development Fund (GEDF). In December 2023, SECCA and the Green Energy Fund agreed to develop a model pre-feasibility study for a SHPP. In February 2024, the Karakol-1 SHPP was pre-selected for the pre-feasibility study.

Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic – Representatives of the Ministry of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, international and regional organisations, as well as the experts of the European Union (EU) funded SECCA project gathered at the Round table “Assessment of biomass potential for the Kyrgyz Republic”. The event was organised jointly by the Ministry of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic and the SECCA project.

In line with its work plan, the SECCA project provides technical support for the assessment of the biomass potential for energy production for the Central Asian (CA) countries. For this purpose, SECCA experts have developed:

1. Methodology for the comprehensive assessment of the potential of (1.a) Solid biomass (agricultural residues, wood biomass, energy crops); (1.b) Biofuels (biodiesel, bioethanol); and (1.c) Biogas/biomethane from different types of feedstock;
2. Concept for improving technologies for processing biomass to energy, biogas and liquid biofuels in CA countries;
3. Detailed assessment of theoretical, technical and economically feasible biomass potential for Kyrgyzstan and rough assessments for Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

At the Round table, the participants reviewed and discussed the results of the assessment of biomass potential for Kyrgyzstan conducted by SECCA’s Biomass Energy Expert. The expert reported that, based on 2021 data, this potential was about 0.8 million tons of oil equivalent per year, which is equivalent to 1.14 million tons of standard fuel. In 2021, this amounted to 6.46% of the fuel and energy balance of the Kyrgyz Republic. The assessment, thus, confirms that the Kyrgyz Republic has significant biomass potential available for the production of various types of biofuels and energy.

The SECCA experts also presented experience of using biomass for producing energy, biogas, and biofuels in Latvia, Moldova, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan.

Round table agenda and presentations