KAZAKHSTAN: U.S.-KAZAKHSTAN JOINT ENERGY PARTNERSHIP

UNCLAS ASTANA 001813 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, EEB/ESC STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTDA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ENRG EPET MNUC KNNP KPAO KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: U.S.-KAZAKHSTAN JOINT ENERGY PARTNERSHIP MEETING JOINT STATEMENT ¶1. (U) On October 7-8, the United States and Kazakhstan held the sixth meeting of the U.S.-Kazakhstan Energy Partnership. Four working groups -- nuclear security and nuclear power, oil and gas, renewable energy and energy efficiency, and electric power -- took place. After chairing a plenary session, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman and Kazakhstan's Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sauat Mynbayev signed a joint statement, which is reproduced below, and a joint action plan (septel). On October 8, shortly before signing, the statement was released to the local press. ¶2. (U) Begin text: The Sixth United States-Kazakhstan Energy Partnership Meeting Joint Statement: Today's sixth meeting of the U.S.-Kazakhstan Energy Partnership reflects the commitments of President Nazarbayev and President Obama to our bilateral relationship by reaffirming our long and successful history of cooperation in the energy sector. At the Energy Partnership meeting, co-chaired by United States Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman and the Republic of Kazakhstan's Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sauat Mynbayev, the participants agreed to build upon our past achievements and work together on energy efficiency, clean energy technologies, diversification of energy sources, promotion of regional electric- power trade, and also improvement of the regulatory environment to facilitate investment in these areas. The participants pledged to continue their countries' commitment to nuclear nonproliferation and to the safe and secure use of nuclear energy. As a result of the meeting today, the co-chairs agree to a Joint Action Plan that outlines cooperation in the following four areas: Nuclear Security and Nuclear Power; Oil and Gas; Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency; and Electric Power. In the area of nuclear security and nuclear power, the United States and Kazakhstan intend to advance cooperation to combat the threat of nuclear weapons proliferation, secure vulnerable nuclear material, minimize the use of highly enriched uranium, prevent nuclear smuggling, strengthen nuclear export control regimes, and observe international security guarantee regimes. We also see important opportunities to work together on civil nuclear energy issues. In particular, we will share expertise between our national laboratories and scientific organizations that will facilitate development of Kazakhstan's commercial nuclear technology. In the oil and gas sector, our Energy Partnership aims to develop further cooperation between International and Kazakhstan companies in the exploration, development, and transportation of Kazakhstan's hydrocarbon resources. We agreed to promote common efforts to expand global energy supplies and support Kazakhstan's efforts to seek alternative routes to deliver energy resources to the international market. In energy efficiency and renewable energy, we intend to work together to enhance energy efficiency in the industrial sector; conduct wind energy resource mapping; and develop strategies to stimulate use of renewable energy. Finally, in the electric power sector, we plan to expand our cooperation to improve regional electric-power trade and domestic power transmission reliability. SIGNED at Astana, in duplicate, on October 8, 2009, in the English and Russian languages by U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman and the Republic of Kazakhstan's Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sauat Mynbayev. HOAGLAND