AGP Executive Report

BRICS Summit Prep (Kazakhstan in the mix): Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is listed among partner-country leaders expected at India’s 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi (Sept 12–13), where India’s agenda centers on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. Caspian Ecology: Kazakhstan is named among key Caspian coastal cities contributing to pollution pressures, as rivers and urban/industrial discharges are flagged as major drivers of the sea’s ecological strain. Wildlife Conservation: Kazakhstan reports two Przewalski’s horse foals born on the steppe, continuing a reintroduction program aimed at rebuilding the species after a long absence. Oil & Environment Compliance: Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Justice has temporarily suspended moves to enforce a $5 billion environmental fine tied to the Kashagan project, while still aiming to recover the debt. Finance & Sustainability: Astana Finance Days wrapped with new agreements and instruments spanning sustainable finance and cross-border market access, reinforcing Kazakhstan’s push to attract capital for greener development. Green Finance Talks: Kazakhstan hosted the second Turkic Green Finance Council meeting in Astana, signaling continued regional momentum on sustainable funding.

Biodiversity & Rewilding: Two Przewalski’s horse foals were born in Kazakhstan’s Altyn Dala State Nature Reserve, the first wild births on Kazakh soil in more than 200 years—an early sign the reintroduced herd is adapting to local conditions. Nuclear Energy Debate: Kazakhstan’s nuclear plant plans are drawing fresh attention after a deal for the Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant was reported, renewing discussion about how uranium-rich countries turn resources into energy security. Caspian Sea & Transport: Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are working to restart a passenger ferry link across the Caspian Sea (Kuryk–Baku–Kuryk), aiming to boost tourism and connectivity after the route was suspended in 2020. Green Finance Cooperation: The Turkic Green Finance Council meeting in Astana reinforced plans to turn green development commitments into bankable projects, including a regional green project database. Water & Environment Policy: Kazakhstan–Switzerland political consultations highlighted cooperation on water resources management and environmental protection, alongside interest in green energy and nuclear industry projects. Transport Skills Gap: Kazakhstan’s transport sector needs about 57,000 more specialists as infrastructure and digitalisation expand demand for both traditional and new tech roles.

Caspian Sea Crisis: The Caspian is shrinking fast, with climate change and reduced river inflows driving a long-term water-level drop that’s now hitting navigation and biodiversity across the region. Wildlife Watch: Two golden eagles were spotted by camera traps in Kazakhstan’s Katon-Karagai National Park, adding to recent snow leopard footage from the same area. Energy Transition: Kazakhstan is pushing a 1 GW wind project with Masdar in Zhambyl, paired with large battery storage, aiming for commissioning in 2029 and a more flexible power system. Pollution & Enforcement: Kazakhstan suspended collection of a major $5bn Kashagan environmental fine while a court challenge is reviewed; regulators allege sulfur storage beyond permit limits. Water & Finance: The 2nd Turkic Green Finance Council meeting in Astana urged turning green policy into bankable projects, including a regional green project database. Tourism Funding: Astana plans 320 million tenge for tourism development, alongside broader city spending on greening, social support, and heating-season fuel subsidies.

Green Finance: Astana hosted the 2nd Meeting of the Turkic Green Finance Council, with officials urging a year-round mechanism to turn climate policy into bankable, measurable projects and calling for a regional green project database. Waste & Recycling: Kazakhstan is moving ahead with the QazRoyalPak paper recycling plant in Pavlodar, funded via recycling fee revenues, aiming to expand capacity and divert more waste paper from landfills, with commissioning planned for 2028. Energy Transition: Kazakhstan outlined plans to scale renewable power and push energy storage as part of a broader regional decarbonization push, including work on a Central Asia–Azerbaijan–Europe green corridor. Caspian Sea Impacts: The shrinking Caspian Sea is already cutting Middle Corridor freight capacity, with ships forced to carry less cargo and ports facing costly dredging and berth upgrades. Pollution & Enforcement: Kazakhstan suspended collection of a $5 billion environmental fine tied to Kashagan sulfur storage norms, as the dispute continues through arbitration and court processes. Water & Infrastructure: Kazakhstan is digitizing and overhauling water resources management, including large-scale work on water facilities under a national system. Space for Environment: Kazakhstan plans an international Earth-observation satellite constellation by 2030 to monitor agriculture, environmental change, and natural resources.

Caspian Sea Water Crisis: Kazakhstan is facing mounting pressure from the Caspian Sea’s rapid decline, with falling levels already affecting shipping, fisheries, tourism and even drinking-water supply along the coast, while experts warn the full economic cost is still not fully assessed. Water Governance Upgrade: Kazakhstan is digitizing water management at scale, with over 23,000 water bodies entered into a national information system, and the government moving to overhaul water resources management to better handle droughts, floods and agricultural shortages. Grid Modernization: The EBRD is backing Kazakhstan’s power network upgrades with a €194m loan to modernize Alatau Zharyk’s distribution infrastructure and expand smart metering and digital controls. Nuclear-Free Zone Reminder: Central Asian states, including Kazakhstan, reaffirmed their commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons on the 20th anniversary of the Semipalatinsk CANWFZ Treaty. Energy Transition & Transport: The shrinking Caspian is also raising costs for the Trans-Caspian “Middle Corridor,” forcing ships to cut cargo loads and pushing ports toward expensive dredging and berth changes. Kazakhstan Space Push: Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a regional space hub, highlighting Earth observation and satellite modernization at Space Days Kazakhstan 2026 in Astana.

Water Security & Caspian Sea: Kazakhstan’s Caspian Sea decline is accelerating risks for ecosystems, fisheries, coastal infrastructure and drinking water, with calls for tighter monitoring and faster management as the sea level drops. Water Governance Upgrade: Kazakhstan is digitizing water data at scale—over 23,000 water bodies and thousands of users and reports—while overhauling the national water management system with new reservoirs, canal modernization and stronger transboundary cooperation. Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: The government’s 2024–2030 water concept targets building 42 new reservoirs, reconstructing 37 and modernizing 14,500 km of irrigation canals to cut flood/drought damage and boost agricultural supply. Space for Environment: Kazakhstan is pushing a Central Asia space hub plan, including expanding its Earth-observation satellite constellation to support environmental monitoring, emergency response and wildfire detection. Mining & Sustainability Signals: Oman is moving toward higher-value mining projects with a Kazakhstan-linked copper/gold partnership, highlighting regional interest in turning exploration into production. Education & Skills: Kazakhstan plans 13 modern colleges across 11 regions to address vocational shortages—an indirect boost for future green jobs.

Space & Environment Monitoring: Kazakhstan plans to expand its Earth observation satellite constellation to 14 satellites, with a goal of nine by 2030, using KazSat-3R as a communications replacement; the data will support agriculture, wildfire detection, and environmental change tracking. Public Infrastructure Perception: A July–August survey of 1,000 residents says 68% see improvements from ongoing infrastructure upgrades, with roads/greenery the most visible priorities and healthcare and utilities also high on the list. Power & Emissions Risk: The government approved a $1.93bn, 700MW condensing coal power plant in Kurchatov (Abai Region), with commissioning expected by 2032 and plans for gas cleaning and dust/emission filtration. Grid Modernization: The EBRD will fund up to KZT 102bn to modernize Alatau Zharyk’s electricity distribution in Almaty, including smart metering and network upgrades under Kazakhstan’s MEKS program. Oil & Drilling Push: Kazakhstan aims for up to 200 exploration/appraisal wells by 2028, targeting underexplored basins to replenish reserves and grow domestic drilling services. Water Security: Central Asia faces rising water stress; 2026 cooperation efforts include proposals for better regional water rules, but agreement remains hard as upstream and downstream needs differ. Biodiversity & Health Research: Kazakh researchers reported antiviral and anti-inflammatory compounds from native medicinal plants, adding experimental support for further study of Central Asian flora.

Biodiversity & Species Recovery: Kazakhstan marked a conservation milestone with the birth of a second Przewalski’s horse foal at the Alibi Wild Ungulates Reintroduction Center in the Altyn Dala State Nature Reserve, following the first foal born Aug. 22—showing the reintroduced animals are adapting and reproducing successfully. Agri-Tech & Pollution Control: Kazakh scientists unveiled BioDrop, a drone-based system that automatically spreads biodegradable capsules containing beneficial insects across fields, boosting biological effectiveness to about 81–83% versus 70–73% with manual release and speeding up pest control. Energy & Water Security: A new UN assessment warns global warming will likely overshoot 1.5°C soon, pushing Central Asia to prepare for harsher climate impacts—especially on water-dependent farming and settlements. Oil & Environmental Risk: Kazakhstan is ramping up exploration and appraisal drilling, targeting up to ~200 wells over 2026–2028, with simplified auctions and a focus on underexplored sedimentary basins—raising the stakes for managing ecological impacts as activity expands.

Biodiversity & Species Recovery: Kazakhstan marked a conservation milestone with a second Przewalski’s horse foal born at the Alibi Wild Ungulates Reintroduction Center in the Altyn Dala State Nature Reserve, with specialists monitoring the mare and newborn as the reintroduction program expands. Green Tech for Farming: Kazakh scientists unveiled BioDrop, a drone-based system that automatically spreads biodegradable capsules carrying beneficial insects to boost biological pest control efficiency in field trials (up to about 81–83% effectiveness vs. 70–73% manually). Energy & Environment: Kazakhstan approved a 700 MW thermal power plant project in Kurchatov (Abai Region) worth 881 billion tenge, aiming to cut emissions via gas purification, filtration, and dust suppression systems aligned with environmental requirements. Climate Risk: WMO-linked reporting warns El Niño is likely to persist through February 2027, raising the odds of droughts, floods, and extreme heat—an issue Kazakhstan and the region will need to plan for. Water Diplomacy: A new Global Ambassadors’ Forum for Water and Economic Diplomacy was launched at World Water Week, with Kazakhstan among participating countries, focusing on mobilizing water investment and cross-border cooperation.

Wildlife & Biodiversity: A second Przewalski’s horse foal has been born at the Alibi Wild Ungulates Reintroduction Center in Kazakhstan’s Altyn Dala State Nature Reserve, with specialists monitoring the mare and newborn as the reintroduction program shows animals adapting and reproducing successfully. Agri-Tech for Pest Control: Kazakh scientists unveiled BioDrop, a drone-based system that automatically spreads biodegradable capsules carrying beneficial insects across fields, boosting biological effectiveness versus manual release and speeding up crop protection. Energy & Environment: Kazakhstan approved a 700 MW thermal power plant project in Kurchatov (Abai Region) worth 881 billion tenge, aiming to add up to 5 billion kWh annually by 2032 while using gas cleaning, emissions filtration and dust suppression to meet environmental requirements. Climate Risk Watch: El Niño is expected to persist through February 2027 with near-100% likelihood, raising the odds of droughts, floods and extreme heat—an issue that can ripple into regional water and food security. Water Diplomacy: A Global Ambassadors’ Forum for Water and Economic Diplomacy was launched alongside World Water Week, with Kazakhstan among participating countries focused on mobilizing water investment and trade cooperation. Marine Safety: Kazakhstan raised concerns about attacks on oil tankers in the Black Sea with the IMO, stressing protection of vessels carrying Kazakh crude and the importance of secure maritime routes.

Energy & Air Quality: Kazakhstan approved an 881 billion tenge (about $1.9B) 700 MW thermal power plant project in Kurchatov, Abai Region, with two 350 MW units planned to come online in stages by 2032; the deal says “clean coal” tech plus gas purification, emissions filtration, and dust suppression are included to meet Kazakhstan’s environmental requirements. Climate Risk: The WMO warns El Niño is likely to persist through February 2027, with near-100% confidence, raising the odds of droughts, floods, and extreme heat—an issue Kazakhstan and the region will feel through shifting rainfall and temperatures. Wildlife Conservation: Kazakhstan’s saiga recovery continues: a 2026 spring census puts the population above 4.6 million after the 2015 die-off that killed about 200,000 animals, though rising numbers are now creating new tensions with farming and land use. Water Diplomacy: A new Global Ambassadors’ Forum for Water and Economic Diplomacy was launched at World Water Week, aiming to mobilize ambassadors to back water investment and cross-border cooperation—relevant for Kazakhstan’s water security agenda. Food Prices: FAO reports August global wheat and sugar prices rose sharply, driven by Black Sea export disruptions, weather impacts, and El Niño-linked risks—potentially affecting import-dependent Central Asia.

Climate Watch: Kazakhstan is bracing for a strengthening El Niño, with WMO saying there’s near-100% odds it will persist through February 2027—raising risks of droughts, floods, and extreme heat. Maritime Security & Energy: Kazakhstan raised concerns about attacks on Black Sea oil tankers in talks with the IMO, stressing safe routes for vessels carrying Kazakh crude and linking this to modernization of Aktau and Kuryk ports and the Trans-Caspian “Middle Corridor.” Water Diplomacy: At World Water Week, GWPO and partners launched a Global Ambassadors’ Forum for Water and Economic Diplomacy, aiming to mobilize ambassadors around water investment and cross-border cooperation. Agriculture & Water-Saving: In Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan’s rice campaign highlights new varieties and water-saving technologies, with major funding for the Zhakhayev Kazakh Scientific and Research Rice Growing Institute. Wildlife Conservation: Kazakhstan’s saiga population has surged past 4.6 million after the 2015 die-off that killed about 200,000 animals—now creating fresh management challenges as numbers rebound. Nuclear Energy: Rosatom and Kazakhstan’s atomic energy company signed an EPC contract for the Balkhash nuclear power plant, with major works planned from 2027. Aviation Security: Kazakhstan will host its first ICAO Aviation Security Week (Oct. 20–22) to strengthen “safe skies” cooperation.

Ecology Policy Push: Kazakhstan’s President has tasked a newly appointed Ecology Minister with forest restoration, waste recycling, and building a closed-loop economy, including plans for waste-to-energy plants in Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent. Climate Tech Cooperation: Sinopec and partners launched a low-carbon CCUS cooperation initiative in Astana, aiming to share CCUS standards and expertise after a conference drawing 230+ participants. Water & Environment Governance: Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan discussed protection and sustainable use of transboundary water resources, as water security remains a regional priority. Biodiversity Spotlight: Rare snow leopard family footage was captured in East Kazakhstan, adding momentum to wildlife monitoring and conservation attention. Disaster Watch: Flooding in the U.S. Grand Canyon left 20+ missing, underscoring how extreme rain can rapidly trigger deadly flash floods—an issue Central Asia also faces.

Gas Security Push: Kazakhstan’s state gas operator Qazaqgaz says it wants to build a strategic natural gas resource base and expand into production to meet rising domestic demand. Water & Climate Resilience: At the SCO summit in Bishkek, leaders stressed that water must never be weaponised, linking regional stability to water security as climate makes hydrology less predictable. Critical Minerals & Environment: OSCE experts highlight Central Asia’s uranium, copper and other transition-mineral potential, while warning that environmental vulnerabilities must be managed as extraction scales up. Sustainable Farming Finance: EBRD approved €25M for Kazakhstan’s TBF Holding Group to support organic crop procurement and storage, aiming to cut fertiliser and water use. Biodiversity & Nature: Kazakhstan students won medals at the International Earth Science Olympiad, including an Earth Science project focused on environmental skills. Pollution & Cleanup Watch: BacTech launched a Peru initiative to reprocess historic mine tailings via bioleaching, underscoring growing interest in safer tailings recovery methods. Disaster Context: Flood and landslide impacts continue to be reported across the region, with UNICEF noting large numbers affected by natural disasters in recent years.

Nuclear Energy: Rosatom and Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants signed an EPC contract for the Balkhash NPP, moving the country’s first high-capacity nuclear project into practical implementation, with design, procurement and construction steps now set to follow. Climate & Forests: Kazakhstan’s Halyk Ormany reforestation push continues after 2023 wildfires, aiming to plant 9 million trees across Semey Ormany, Ile-Alatau National Park and Astana’s green belt to rebuild forests that can endure for decades. Water Security: Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan held a UNECE-backed meeting on protecting and sustainably using transboundary water resources, focusing on aquifer protection and a roadmap toward a 2030 plan. Energy Transition: A new regional view argues Central Asia’s power transition hinges on water—linking hydropower, growing solar/wind and storage, and cross-border electricity planning to drought and shifting hydrology. Sustainable Farming Finance: The EBRD approved a €25M seasonal working-capital facility for Kazakhstan’s TBF Holding Group to expand organic crop trading, supported by a €500,000 grant to cut fertilizer and water use. Digital Policy: Kazakhstan is set to join the Digital Cooperation Organization, expanding cooperation on AI, digital trade and cross-border data rules. Wildlife & Nature Culture: Kazakhstan marked Tazy and Tobet Day for the first time, spotlighting indigenous dog breeds and international recognition efforts.

Water & Irrigation Leadership: President Tokayev has reappointed Nurzhan Nurzhigitov as Kazakhstan’s water resources and irrigation minister, with a career spanning agriculture, natural resources regulation, and regional public administration. Forest Recovery After Fires: Kazakhstan is pushing a long-term reforestation push after 2023 wildfires in Semey Ormany, aiming to plant 9 million trees over five years across Semey Ormany, Ile-Alatau National Park, and Astana’s green belt. Minerals & Investment Readiness: Kazakhstan is expanding geological exploration and digitizing survey data, but experts stress that discovery is only the first step toward bankable projects and higher-value exports. Nuclear Power Rollout: Rosatom and Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants signed a contract to build the two-unit Balkhash NPP, moving the first nuclear power plant project into practical implementation. SCO Energy & Climate Signals: At the Bishkek SCO summit, leaders backed broader cooperation on trade, transport, energy, digital economy, and climate-related priorities, reinforcing the bloc’s push beyond security. Rare Earth Processing Deal: Lindian signed agreements with Carester to develop an oxide separation facility at Stepnogorsk, targeting completion in Q4 2026 and long-term offtake for heavy rare earth products. Wildlife Conservation Note: A rare snow leopard family was captured on camera in East Kazakhstan, adding fresh momentum to monitoring and protection efforts.