The Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) is not only the largest international structure but also a
giant market uniting producers, transit countries, and consumers of energy
resources. With SCO countries comprising about a quarter of the global GDP, the
relevance of new key directions in the energy sector is increasing. These
include establishing an energy system, developing hydrogen energy, exploring
energy resource conservation, and enhancing energy efficiency. These and other
areas of partnership among SCO member states are detailed in the Strategy for
the Development of Energy Cooperation until 2030, jointly agreed upon and
recently approved in Astana at the initiative of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart
Tokayev. The strategy also outlines prospects for developing energy resource
transit and opportunities to diversify export routes, modernize traditional
energy sources, and advance innovative technologies in renewable energy. A
successful example of cooperation in this field within the SCO space is the
trilateral agreement signed in June this year between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,
and the Kyrgyz Republic. It envisages preparations for the implementation of
the Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant construction and operation project.
«With World Bank guarantees, we
are set to commence construction soon. The feasibility study is currently being
updated, with an estimated budget of $4.5-5 billion and a capacity of 1,860 MW.
This Central Asian project aims to address both energy and water challenges,» Kyrgyz
Minister of Energy Taalaibek Ibraev said.
