Experts: Energy to be priority topic during Putin's talks in Kazakhstan

The construction of nuclear power plants, thermal power plants, and state regional power stations, as well as new gas and oil pipelines from Russia through Kazakhstan to China, will be the main topics during negotiations during Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming visit to Kazakhstan on November 27, Kazakh experts said at a press conference on Friday, Report's Kazakhstan's bureau informs.

"Speaking about energy projects alone, a package of documents will be signed in this direction during the upcoming visit. One of the central issues, of course, will be who will participate in the consortium for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan," says Kazakh economist Petr Svoik.

According to him, the construction of a nuclear power plant near Lake Balkhash in central Kazakhstan will connect not only the north and south of the republic but also the energy systems of Russia's eastern, western Siberian, and Altai regions with Kazakhstan, which in turn will connect Russia with Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

"This will be a true union infrastructure that will lay the foundation for cooperation for more than 50 years," added Svoik.

He also reminded that Russia is entering Kazakhstan's energy system through the construction of three thermal power plants in three regions of the republic and the completion of new units at Ekibastuz GRES-1 and GRES-2 in northern Kazakhstan.

Alibek Tazhibaev, director of the Eurasian Monitoring analytical research center, also believes that during the upcoming visit, an announcement will be made regarding the nuclear power plant construction project in Kazakhstan: "No one doubts that the Russian side will be represented in the international consortium, which President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke about during the referendum."

He also noted that energy and transport-logistics projects will be discussed during the upcoming visit.

"We're talking about gas pipelines. In particular, about expanding the capacity of the 'Central Asia - Center' gas pipeline, which began operating in reverse mode," said Tazhibaev.

He also doesn't rule out the possibility of agreements on new oil pipelines from Russia to China and strengthening economic cooperation between the border regions of Russia and Kazakhstan.