Official meeting with representatives of the EU project “SECCA”

On May 20, 2022, an official meeting with representatives of the working group of projects “SECCA” - team leader Paat Janelidze and senior expert in the field of management in the energy sector, Dr. Nikolaos Pitsas was held at the Almaty University of Power Engineering and Telecommunications named after Gumarbek Daukeyev. The distinguished guests were welcomed by Almaz Saukhimov, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation; Damir Dzheksenbinov, Director of the Department “Science and Commercialization”; Zhanna Suymenbayeva, Chief Specialist for Foreign and External Partners; Andrey Kibarin, Head of the Department “Thermal Power Plants”; Kazhybek Tergemes, Head of the Department “Power Supply and Renewable Energy Sources”, Associate Professor Rasim Nigmatullin.

The head of the working group of the project “SECCA”, Paata Janelidze, said the following during the presentation: “Two weeks ago we paid a business visit to Nazarbayev University. There, AUPET was recommended to us, as well as Mr. Saukhimov, personally. They said that your university has the best competencies in the areas of energy. Our side would like to discuss with you not only the possibility of cooperation, but also get your support in promoting our project at the level of ministries”.

Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation Almaz Sauhimov supported the initiative of the representatives of the SECCA project. He said that "AUPET has sufficient competencies and knowledge in the field of green energy." “For the last 10 years we have been dealing with renewable energy sources. In 2018, a Memorandum of Cooperation with USAID was signed to develop this area (but only wind and sun energy) with American partners. Your project is aimed at creating a more sustainable energy balance. We believe that hydrogen will contribute to this. (...) Balanced development can become the subject of both a policy document at the level of the government and heads of state,” Sauhimov directed the conversation in the right direction.

Further, the meeting participants shared their expert opinions on a particular issue. The parties discussed the development of mechanisms to improve energy sustainability in the industrial sector of the economy and the conditions for the operation of energy service companies in Kazakhstan. In addition, the issue of geothermal energy was raised. “Research in this area of energy was carried out in the late 90s and early 2000s. Unfortunately, today these issues are not fully mastered. During this time, clear mechanisms for the development of geothermal energy have not been developed. (...) You asked about the sectoral energy sustainability plan. I want to answer that there was a program until 2025, but it practically could not be implemented and it was closed for objective reasons. Together we have something to work on,” Andrey Kibarin, head of the Department of Thermal Power Plants, shared his expert opinion.

At the end of the meeting, the parties confirmed their interest in further cooperation. “During our recent meetings, we discussed the same issues. Today we realized that the expert community of Kazakhstan has the same view with us on the development of the industry. (...) We thank you for the meeting! We hope that our further cooperation will be fruitful,” said Paata Janelidze, head of the working group of the project “SECCA”.

Presentation of the project “SECCA”

 

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