Kazakh-European Strategic Partnership on CRM and Green Hydrogen Discussed in Brussels
Brussels, March 5, 2024 – The Embassy of Kazakhstan in the Kingdom of Belgium organized a high-level event dedicated to the prospects of Kazakhstan-European cooperation on CRM, Green Hydrogen and Batteries.
The event saw the participation of over 60 high-ranking officials from the European Institutions, the Permanent Representations of the EU Member States, and the business community.
The thematic panel session were addressed by Bolat Akchulakov, Advisor to the President of Kazakhstan for Energy; Luc Devigne, Deputy Managing Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia of EEAS; Matthew Baldwin, Deputy Director-General of DG ENER; Peter Handley, Head of Unit of DG GROW; Sarah Rinaldi, Head of Unit of DG INTPA; Wolfgang Kropp, CEO of SVEVIND Energy Group; Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe.
Presidential Adviser for Energy Bolat Akchulakov recalled the importance of the Kazakhstan-EU Memorandum of Understanding in the framework of the strategic partnership with the European Union and as a means to achieve the common objectives of the green and digital transitions.
“This partnership represents a perfect template for international cooperation and is making important contributions towards reaching the ambitious goals of climate neutrality and digital innovation shared by Kazakhstan and the European Union. I am positive our relationship with the EU will continue to expand at the same pace we have witnessed since the signing of the Memorandum, attracting the interest of both European institutions and investors”, Akchulakov said.
EEAS Deputy Managing Director Luc Devigne raised the development of the Kazakhstan-EU relationship, defining it a “success story of cooperation” and noted the EU’s readiness further strengthen this partnership, ensuring both the sustainability of supply chains and the achievement of common climate goals.
Similarly, DG ENER Deputy Director-General Matthew Baldwin expressed the EU’s willingness to share its experience on energy diversification with Kazakhstan and added that tangible commitments in this sense will be announced during the EU-Central Asia Summit in 2024.
As part of the event, the “Kazakh Invest” presented its local office on CRM in Brussels.
In November 2022, Kazakhstan and the European Union signed a Memorandum of Understanding on sustainable raw materials, batteries and renewable hydrogen value chains. The Parties adopted a Roadmap for the implementation of this Memorandum in 2023.
The Memorandum deepens the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and the EU to ensure the sustainability of critical raw material supply chains and to promote the development of common green hydrogen and renewable energy projects.