05.10.2023

Diplomatic breakfast at the XV KAZENERGY Eurasian Forum

From October 3 to 6, 2023, the Kazakhstan Energy Week (KEW-2023) took place at the EXPO Congress Center in Astana, Kazakhstan. This event combined several major events in the energy and oil & gas industries and has become the most significant one in the Central Asian region.

The XV Eurasian Forum KAZENERGY, organized by the KAZENERGY Association since 2006, is the primary international event in the energy sector in the Caspian and Central Asian regions. Traditionally, the KAZENERGY Forum attracts interest from governments of various countries, international energy organizations, diplomatic missions, Kazakhstan and foreign energy companies, research institutions, and consulting agencies. The event brought together over 2,500 delegates from more than 300 companies representing over 50 countries worldwide.

In the framework of this forum, a Diplomatic Business Breakfast was organized by the Society of Honorary Consuls (OPK), focusing on essential aspects such as energy security, energy efficiency, and renewable energy sources. The event was attended by Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassadors from 25 countries, including the European Union, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Croatia, Finland, Slovakia, North Macedonia, Romania, Morocco, Kuwait, South Korea, Canada, Italy, Jordan, Israel, Georgia, Hungary, Brazil, Belgium, Slovenia, Estonia, and others. Also, Deputy Heads of diplomatic missions from 10 countries, such as Japan, France, Thailand, Portugal, Oman, Indonesia, Bulgaria, the United States, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, participated. Additionally, 15 Honorary Consuls representing various countries, including Hungary, Finland, Iceland, Singapore, Lithuania, Turkey, Mexico, Georgia, Slovenia, Indonesia, and more, were present. Representatives of various international organizations and companies in Kazakhstan were also part of the event, with a total of approximately 65 attendees.

During this breakfast, there was an extensive discussion with interesting speakers, providing delegates with a unique opportunity to address current issues and share solutions and advanced technologies from their respective countries.

Mr. Denis Van den Weghe, the Chairman of the Board of the Society of Honorary Consuls, delivered a welcoming speech and encouraged the attending Ambassadors to appoint more Honorary Consuls. He emphasized that Honorary Consuls often play a vital role in achieving the success of diplomatic missions, as they typically possess extensive knowledge of the host country and maintain valuable networks, thereby facilitating the effective operation of Ambassadors.

In the context of global energy challenges, Mr. Van den Weghe highlighted key trends in Kazakhstan's energy security. The discussion included topics like nuclear power plant construction, Kazakhstan's role in the global transition to electric vehicles and battery production, as well as investments in renewable energy sources. According to Mr. Van den Weghe, the situation in the country is linked to fulfilling international commitments, such as KS-26, but questions regarding the long-term effectiveness of energy solutions and their impact on the economy remain open.

At the end of his speech, the Chairman of the Board of the Society of Honorary Consuls introduced two key speakers: Mr. Arman Kashkinbekov, the Honorary President of the Association of Renewable Energy of Kazakhstan, who is also a member of the National Council under the President of Kazakhstan, the Board of Directors of Samruk-Energy JSC, and the Energy Committee of the Atameken National Chamber, as well as Mr. Kestutis Jankauskas, the Ambassador of the European Union to Kazakhstan.
In his presentation, Arman Kashkinbekov presented the report of the Association of Renewable Energy of Kazakhstan and congratulated Mr. Jambulat Sarsenov, the Deputy Chairman of the KAZENERGY Association, who also serves as the Honorary Consul of Hungary in Kazakhstan, on his appointment as Vice President for Diversity, Inclusion, and Youth in the World Petroleum Council (WPC Energy). He wished Mr. Sarsenov success in his professional endeavors.

Ambassador Kestutis Jankauskas expressed his gratitude to the organizers of the Diplomatic Breakfast and shared the experiences of European countries in the transition to renewable energy sources.

Following the presentations by the speakers, participants engaged in an open discussion and exchanged opinions and experiences from their respective countries. The Breakfast preceded the following session, during which S&P Global presented the National Energy Report for the year 2023.