Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – Over 30 senior students of school №65 of the Bishkek city participated in the STEM4Her event. It was organised with the support of the European Union (EU), as part of the EU–Kyrgyzstan Sustainable Energy Days.

As the name suggests, the STEM4Her event was primarily aimed at the senior schoolgirls. At the event, they joined discussions with role models from the energy sector about education and careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) and energy. Women leaders, including Nurzat Abdyrasulova, President of UNISON Group, and Eleonora Kazakova, Chairperson of the “Renewable Energy Sources in the Kyrgyz Republic” Association, and Ilze Purina, the EU-funded SECCA Project Key Expert in Energy Governance, shared their stories of breaking barriers and building careers in sustainable energy. Taalaibek Mambetaliev, Deputy Director General of the Chakan Small Hydropower Plant, presented about the work of the plant and how water generates clean energy.

School №65 was awarded the title of the Most Energy-Efficient School in 2023 by the EU, making it a fitting participant.

Hans Farnhammer, Chargé d’affaires of the EU Delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic, remarked: “Initiatives like STEM4Her empower girls and invest in future female leaders who will drive innovation and the green transition. Energy is not just about technology – it is about people, ideas, and opportunities. The EU is proud to support the energy sector in Central Asia with our flagship regional projects Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant and SECCA, and making sure that women will be part of work force of the energy sector in the future”.

Currently, women account for about 30-40% of STEM graduates but make up only 18% of the energy sector workforce in Kyrgyzstan. The event increased the girls’ awareness about clean energy and encouraged them to imagine their futures in STEM. It ended with a lively STEM4Her quiz, where the girls tested their knowledge of sustainable energy and celebrated the winners with prizes and group photos.

The event was organised by the EU-funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)”.

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – The European Union – Kyrgyzstan Sustainable Energy Days (SEDs) 2025 officially launched today in Bishkek. Organised annualy since 2023 by the EU-funded SECCA project, the event brought together state partners, representatives of academia, business, and media to celebrate achievements and partnerships advancing Kyrgyzstan’s green energy transition.

The event opened with the official handover of the Karakol-1 Small Hydropower Plant (SHPP) Pre-Feasibility Study from the SECCA project to the Green Energy Fund under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic. Developed at the Fund’s request, the study represents a key step toward expanding renewable energy generation in Kyrgyzstan and promoting sustainable hydropower development.

The event then followed with the celebration of the winner of the EU’s regional media contest “Energy Transition for a Better Tomorrow” – Kyrgyz photojournalist Vlad Ushakov from photo.kg who received the 1st prize. The contest, organised by SECCA between April and May 2025, attracted more than 200 submissions from over 120 journalists across Central Asia.

The launch also featured the opening of the photo exhibition “The European Union – Kyrgyzstan: Faces of Sustainable Energy Development Cooperation.” The exhibition presents the stories and portraits of leading Kyrgyz experts, educators, and policymakers contributing to a more sustainable and greener future. The Kyrgyz edition was complemented by a regional video presentation featuring 38 inspiring individuals from all five Central Asian countries.

Tomorrow, on 15 October 2025, SEDs will continue with an interactive STEM4Her event at Bishkek’s most energy-efficient School №65.

The EU–Kyrgyzstan Sustainable Energy Days 2025 embody the spirit of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and the Team Europe Initiative on Water, Energy, and Climate Change in Central Asia, and promote regional cooperation, clean energy innovation, and sustainable development.

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan – The Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan approved the Instruction on Reducing Technological Electricity Losses during Transmission through the Power Grids of Turkmenistan’s Energy System on 2 October 2025. The Instruction was developed within the framework of the European Union-funded Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA) project.

The document was prepared in accordance with the Law of Turkmenistan “On Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency” and aims to improve practical mechanisms for enhancing energy efficiency and reducing electricity transmission losses.

The Instruction establishes the procedure for developing and implementing action plans to reduce technological electricity losses during transmission through the energy system power grids, outlines the distribution of responsibilities among the structural divisions of the State Corporation Turkmenenergo, and sets unified forms for calculations and reporting. This regulatory document is intended for engineering and technical personnel in the electric power industry of Turkmenistan who are involved in electricity metering, as well as for specialists responsible for the operation and repair of power stations and networks.

In addition, the Instruction will serve as a training manual for students of the State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan, which will improve the quality of professional education in the field of energy efficiency and energy conservation.

The preparation of this document is part of the SECCA project’s systemic work aimed at supporting Turkmenistan in the development of regulatory documents on energy efficiency and renewable energy development.

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – The Inter-Institutional Working Group (IIWG) for Renewable Energy Development established by the Ministry of Energy of Kyrgyzstan met today to discuss the Draft Programme on the Development of Renewable Energy in Kyrgyzstan for 2025-2030.

During the meeting, SECCA Senior Experts Mansur Kudusov and Darius Krauciunas presented the results of the Preliminary Rooftop Solar (RTS) Technical Potential Assessment for various regions of Kyrgyzstan. The study provides an evaluation of the country’s physical, geographical, and technical capacity for the use of RTS installations.

As the next stage of work, the SECCA team proposed to assess the economically feasible RTS potential for different scenarios of possible tariff levels, considering current rates, those submitted for approval, and those under discussion, which would be provided by the authors of the Draft Programme.

Astana, Kazakhstan – The EU-funded Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA) project met with representatives of the Department of Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency under the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan and senior management of the JSC “Institute for the Development of Electric Power and Energy Saving” (EEDI).

During the meeting, SECCA experts presented the outcomes of technical assistance aimed at strengthening Kazakhstan’s system for monitoring and improving energy efficiency in public buildings. The team introduced a new business process for EEDI, designed to enhance the collection, analysis, and prioritisation of data from the State Energy Register.

The proposed system applies seven criteria – including specific energy consumption, building age, area, type of institution, tariffs, CO₂ emissions, and efficiency class – with a 100-point scale to identify buildings with the highest efficiency potential. Facilities scoring 86 points or above are recommended for on-site audits. Out of 47 data categories collected from public institutions, SECCA experts identified 12 as key indicators for this prioritisation. A dedicated verification questionnaire was also developed to ensure data accuracy and minimise risks prior to field inspections.

In addition, the project prepared a comprehensive list of recommended equipment – such as power quality meters, thermal cameras, airflow and lighting sensors, etc. – and detailed the methodology and stages of on-site energy audits, from preliminary data screening to interviews, visual inspections, measurements, analysis, and final reporting.

In the next phase of work, SECCA experts will develop templates and forms for field audits, conduct pilot inspections at three schools in Astana, and train EEDI specialists to apply the new methodology. These steps will contribute to building national capacity and improving the overall framework for energy efficiency in Kazakhstan’s public sector.

Pavlodar, Kazakhstan – On 22 September 2025, the III Interregional Forum on “Ecology and Production: The Path to a Sustainable Future” took place. It was organised by the Kazakhstan Association of Regional Environmental Initiatives “ECOJER”.

The event brought together representatives of government agencies, businesses, NGOs and industry experts. The main topic of discussion was improving Kazakhstan’s legislation to enable ecological modernisation of industry and promote green investments. Forum participants emphasised the importance of resource conservation, reducing administrative barriers, and creating incentives for industry players willing to invest in the environmental sustainability.

As a result of the dialogue, a set of recommendations was developed which, according to ECOJER, will serve as the basis for future legislative amendments.

The SECCA project, funded by the European Union, was represented at the forum by Team Leader Paata Janelidze, Key Expert Ilze Purina, and National Coordinator Zhaksylyk Tokayev. In addition, ECOJER awarded the project team honorary certificates in recognition of their contribution to the development of sustainable energy in the regions of Kazakhstan.

Online – On 18 September 2025, the Inter-Institutional Working Group (IIWG) established by the Ministry of Energy of Kyrgyzstan and the SECCA project experts met online to discuss structuring of bylaws that will enable the effective monitoring and quality assurance of building Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).

The national experts, members of IIWG, representing government agencies and research insitutions, and the SECCA experts reviewed the regulatory framework for energy efficiency and building certification in the Kyrgyz Republic, the European Union experience on independent quality control systems for energy certificates, and the structure of the draft Regulation on the procedure for monitoring and quality assurance of work performed on energy certification of buildings.

The IIWG and SECCA experts will continue the dialogue and agreed to hold the next meeting in October 2025.

Online – On 11 September 2025, the members of the Inter-Institutional Working Group (IIWG) of Kyrgyzstan and the SECCA project experts gathered for the first online meeting to discuss the development of the energy service company (ESCO) market in Kyrgyzstan. The IIWG was established by the Ministry of Energy of Kyrgyzstan to strengthen energy efficiency (EE) services market and building energy performance certification standards.

At the meeting, the participants discussed the basic principles of ESCOs and Energy Performance Contracts (EPC), approaches to measuring and verifying energy savings, and aligning ESCO/EPC requirements to the specific context of Kyrgyzstan. Participants also considered opportunities for financing and stimulating private sector involvement, as well as selection of pilot sites (schools, hospitals, municipal infrastructure).

The IIWG members will continue the dialogue and will hold the next meeting on 18 September 2025, which will be dedicated to monitoring and quality control of building energy certification.

“Energiya Joly” Podcast explores the path to sustainable energy in Central Asia. It has been launched by the EU-funded SECCA Project.

The new episode explores the role of the Institute for the Development of Electric Power and Energy Saving in improving the energy efficiency of public buildings in Kazakhstan. The Host and the Guest discuss monitoring of energy consumption at the large enterprises, mandatory energy audits, energy-efficient public procurement, standards for social buildings, and the importance of raising public awareness.

Host: Zhaksylyk Tokayev, energy and climate expert
Guest: Yeldos Abakanov, Chairman of the Board of JSC “The Institute for the Development of Electric Power and Energy Saving”

Watch the full episode here (in Russian):

This podcast is funded by the European Union. Its content is the sole responsibility of the consortium led by Stanted and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Mary, Turkmenistan – More than 150 senior schoolgirls from School No. 28 in Mary and over 40 first-year students from the State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan (SEIT) took part in the “STEM4Her” events held at the school on 4 September and at SEIT on 30 August 2025, respectively.

Both events were organised by the European Union funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)” with the support of the Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan. They were held as part of the campaign “The European Union – Turkmenistan: Sustainable Energy Days”.

Social stereotypes and low awareness often prevent girls from considering STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) as a career path. The events were dedicated to the topics of STEM education and career in the energy sector.

Female experts addressed the participants: Ilze Purina, SECCA Key Expert on Energy Sector Governance; Maija Dzirkale, SECCA International Consultant on Building Certification; and Jemal Durdykova, Climate Awareness and Youth Engagement Analyst for the UNDP project “Sustainable Cities in Turkmenistan: Integrated Green Urban Development in Ashgabat and Awaza”. They spoke to the girls about “green” energy, the prospects for renewable energy and energy efficiency deployment in Turkmenistan, and also shared their own professional experiences in these fields.

Overall, the event enhanced participants’ awareness of sustainable energy and career opportunities in the energy sector.