As a result of a visit to Astana by US Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman, Kazakhstan and the United States have agreed to expand energy cooperation.
Poneman, who has served as a Special Assistant to the US President while overseeing Export Controls in the National Security Council, discussed oil and gas production with the Kazakh energy industry as well as joint work in the development of alternative sources of energy.Poneman’s responsibilities included the development and implementation of US policy in such areas as peaceful nuclear cooperation, missile technology, space-launch activities, sanctions determinations, chemical and biological arms control efforts, and conventional arms transfer policy. During this time, he also participated in negotiations and consultations with governments in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the former Soviet Union.
This was Poneman’s third visit to Central Asia’s Kazakhstan, and it was a very busy visit for the amount of meetings he had. This time, the Deputy Secretary of Energy met with Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Karim Masimov, Oil Minister, Ecology Minister, and the head of the national company Kazatomprom.
One of the main purposes of Poneman’s visit to Astana this time was to discuss the Kashagan project with Kazakhstan’s minister of oil and gas, Uzakbai Karabalin. USA’s largest oil and gas corporation Exxon Mobil is a partner in that project.
“The US government clearly understands the role of our company that is involved in the development of the Kashagan field. From the point of view of national security, our countries are interested in providing enough oil and gas to the market. Kashagan will play an important role in that. We are also interested in the development of the Karachaganak and Tengiz projects,” Poneman said.
He also said that energy security, including diversification of hydrocarbon supplies, is a priority for US President Barack Obama. This has become even more important recently in the light of the Ukraine events. The conflict between the Ukraine and Russia threatens the stability of supplies of gas to Europe.
The US has always supported and been committed to energy security. The US policy has been always the same: diversification of hydrocarbon export routes is key to energy security.
While in Astana, Poneman visited a newly opened International Scientific-Technical Centre of the Nazarbayev University where he met with a group of American energy scientists from Berkley National Laboratory.
“I was among the pioneers of the idea of creation of such a centre, and I am very pleased to see this idea materialise in a successful bilateral cooperation. The fact that the American scientists from Berkley and the national laboratories of the US are working together with their Kazakh colleagues demonstrates your country’s commitment to building a successful future,” Poneman said at the conclusion of his visit to the International Scientific-Technical Centre.
Kazakhstan and the US are long-time strategic partners with dynamic interactions in oil and gas, nuclear security, and electricity.
Poneman said he believes this cooperation can be expanded in the area of new technologies, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and peaceful use of nuclear energy.
“In preparation for EXPO-2017, Kazakhstan should determine which of these areas it is most interested in so we can focus our future joint efforts on specific areas to maximise the result,” Poneman said.
He talked about the serious research conducted in the US and the progress achieved in alternative energy technologies, including wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass.
The parties have agreed to continue a regular dialogue on all levels and to make additional efforts to strengthen and expand the Kazakh-American strategic partnership in energy.
http://www.neurope.eu/article/us-envoy-kashagan-tengiz-boost-europe%E2%80%99s-energy-security