Georgia and Azerbaijan sign landmark energy and transport agreements in Baku
In a sweeping diplomatic push in Baku, Georgia and Azerbaijan have signed a landmark package of energy and transport agreements, cementing a partne...
Kazakhstan has reassigned three CHP plant projects to a Kazakh-Singaporean consortium, formally ending Russia’s involvement, the energy ministry confirmed.
Kazakhstan has reassigned the construction of three combined heat and power (CHP) plants in Kokshetau, Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk to a Kazakh-Singaporean consortium, formally ending Russia’s participation after a prolonged period of uncertainty.
The decision, confirmed by Vice Minister of Energy Sungat Yessimkhanov, signals a shift in how large-scale energy infrastructure projects in the country are financed and delivered.
EPC contracts for the Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk plants were signed in early 2026, allowing work to move into an active phase in the coming months. Orders for key equipment are expected to be placed in May, while engineering surveys and site preparation will proceed in parallel.
Deliveries are scheduled from the third quarter of 2027, with commissioning targeted for the fourth quarter of 2029. The projects will incorporate modern technological solutions, including Chinese components.
The scale of investment remains substantial. The plant in Kokshetau is estimated to cost around $750 million, while the facilities in Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk are expected to reach roughly $850 million each.
Officials have emphasised that the projects will proceed without direct budget financing, pointing instead to alternative investment structures.
The three plants were initially conceived as joint projects with Russia within the framework of bilateral energy cooperation. In November 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin announced plans to formalise the arrangement through an intergovernmental agreement, which envisaged Russian involvement in design, equipment supply and concessional financing.
However, implementation stalled as key financial terms remained unresolved. Although a ratification bill was introduced in parliament in late 2024, progress was repeatedly delayed amid ongoing discussions over subsidised financing mechanisms.
By mid-2025, the government had begun to consider alternative investors. First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar stated that the primary obstacle lay in securing export financing, stressing that the issue was not linked to sanctions but rather to financial arrangements.
By the end of 2025, uncertainty persisted. Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said Kazakhstan had not received a response from the Russian side regarding concessional financing for two of the projects.
In response, the government moved to implement the Kokshetau plant independently through the state-owned company Samruk-Energy, while continuing to reassess options for the remaining facilities.
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the official opening press conference, the WUF13 Urban Expo opening and a ministerial dialogue on the Nairobi Declaration to advance Africa's urban agenda.
United Nations World Urban Forum 13 continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 19 May with sessions and roundtable discussions focused on strengthening dialogue and advancing cooperation in urban development. Organisers say there are nearly 3 billion people globally who face some form of housing inadequacy.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he had paused a planned attack on Iran after appeals from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, allowing negotiations to continue over a possible deal to end the conflict.
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck China’s Guangxi region early on Monday, killing two people and forcing more than 7,000 residents in Liuzhou to evacuate as rescue efforts continued.
Azerbaijan and Georgia have agreed to resume daily passenger train services on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route from 26 May, 2026, marking a major step in restoring regional rail connectivity after services were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a sweeping diplomatic push in Baku, Georgia and Azerbaijan have signed a landmark package of energy and transport agreements, cementing a partnership set to shape the South Caucasus corridor for decades to come.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for closer security coordination between Central Asia and China, warning that expanding trade and infrastructure links are exposing the region to increasingly sophisticated cross-border threats.
Azerbaijan and Georgia have agreed to resume daily passenger train services on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route from 26 May, 2026, marking a major step in restoring regional rail connectivity after services were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Israeli forces intercepted dozens of Gaza-bound aid vessels in the eastern Mediterranean on Monday (18 May), prompting condemnation from the United Nations and Türkiye, while flotilla organisers said several ships continued sailing toward Gaza despite the operation.
Pakistan has deployed around 8,000 troops, fighter jets and air defence systems to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defence agreement, according to security officials and government sources familiar with the arrangement.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment