The EU aims to
strengthen sustainable ties with Central Asian countries, particularly in the
energy sector. European diplomats consider Kazakhstan as a main pillar of the
region, so cooperating with the country is expected to advance this goal. This
was stated by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto in an interview with
Silk Way TV channel. According to him, the two countries are focusing on green
and nuclear energy cooperation. Thus, Kazakhstan is planning to train nuclear
experts. Additionally, Szijjarto highlighted the upcoming commissioning of the
large Rozhkovskoye gas condensate field by year-end, with Hungary investing
about $200 million in this project. Overall, he called 2023 the most successful
year in economic terms.
“We would like to
see a much tighter cooperation between the EU and Kazakhstan as the EU is
looking for diversification opportunities when it comes to safe supply of
energy and we all see that Central Asia can be a reliable and absolutely
credible source of diversification. Therefore, since we consider Kazakhstan as
a main pillar of the Central Asian region, we do believe that the EU-Kazakhstan
cooperation will definitely be able to contribute to this European goal.
Hungary has been using nuclear power for more than four decades and we have a
very positive experience with nuclear power. We do consider nuclear as a cheap,
sustainable, environmentally friendly and safe way of generating energy. So, if
I can give an advice, I would say that Kazakhstan, especially putting into consideration
the huge reserves you do have of uranium, you should definitely go for nuclear
as well,” Szijjarto said.
