Brussels, October 10, 2025 — Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Erlan Akkenzhenov participated in the Global Gateway forum in Brussels, where he held a series of strategic meetings with the leadership of the European Union and the heads of European financial institutions. The visit cemented Kazakhstan’s status as a key and reliable partner for the EU in Central Asia.
During the forum, talks were held with Jozef Sikela, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, and Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy. The parties discussed ways to deepen cooperation in energy security and green energy development.
The Minister reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s strategic goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, emphasizing that the country is committed to a pragmatic and balanced approach to the green transition. This process, he said, must ensure a balance between the development of renewable energy sources and the reliability of the national energy system, which currently relies on traditional generation.
Attracting investment was a particular focus during the visit. Substantive talks were held with Odile Renaud-Basso, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Cyril Bellet, Director of the French Development Agency (AFD), and the management of the Italian financial group Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP).
A key outcome of the visit was the signing of memoranda of cooperation with leading European financial institutions—the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). These documents are aimed at attracting investment in regional projects, including the Kambarata Hydroelectric Power Plant-1, renewable energy development projects, and grid modernization projects.
The “Partnership Dialogue in Central Asia,” organized by the GIZ EURECA project, also took place on the sidelines of the forum. The heads of energy ministries from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan participated in the event. Erlan Akkenzhenov presented Kazakhstan’s position on regional electricity trade, joint development of hydropower potential, and the development of unified technical standards for renewable energy sources.
“Our visit to Brussels confirmed our strong mutual interest in deepening our energy partnership. Kazakhstan is a reliable energy supplier and is ready to become a strategic ally for Europe in the areas of green energy, critical materials, and green hydrogen production. The signed agreements with the EIB and EBRD are a clear signal to European businesses that Kazakhstan is a promising and safe platform for long-term investments in a sustainable future,” noted Kazakh Energy Minister Erlan Akkenzhenov.
Reported by the press office of KZ MoE.
