In a significant boost to green energy initiatives worldwide, a partnership between Germany and Kazakhstan is poised to redefine the landscape of renewable energy and hydrogen production.
This collaborative venture, announced during German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s visit to Kazakhstan from 19 to 21 June, will culminate in the construction of a green hydrogen production plant in Kazakhstan’s Mangghystau region.
The initiative is led by Svevind Energy, a German-Swedish company that has been working with Kazakhstan on wind and solar farms in the Mangystau region for more than two years. With the vast potential of solar and wind energy available in Kazakhstan, the plan is to produce a staggering two million tonnes of green hydrogen, signifying a monumental stride towards reducing the world’s dependence on fossil fuels.
In addition to this venture, the visit by Steinmeier to the port city of Aktau highlighted the critical role of the Middle Corridor, a strategic route connecting China with the EU, bypassing Russia. Aktau is key to the success of the Trans-Caspian international transport route, and both parties emphasized their intention to strengthen cooperation within this framework.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev underscored Kazakhstan’s role as a primary regional hub, accounting for 80 percent of land traffic on the route between China and Europe, with the Middle Corridor increasing in importance. Tokayev also highlighted the country’s ongoing efforts to modernize infrastructure and eliminate bottlenecks, with ambitious plans to boost the throughput of Kazakh ports up to 30 million tons.
The Kazakh-German relationship extends beyond infrastructure, with a focus on innovation, digitalization, and human capital development. By the end of 2023, it is anticipated that the Kazakh-German Institute of Engineering and the Kazakh-German Institute of Science and Technology will be operational, bolstering Kazakhstan’s competitiveness in the global landscape.
Kazakhstan’s trade with Germany was valued at over 10 billion dollars last year, and this new collaboration demonstrates the potential for further growth. The two countries plan to deepen people-to-people contact, recognizing the substantial German diaspora of 226,000 people in Kazakhstan and over one million former Kazakh citizens living in Germany.
Steinmeier highlighted that Germany was following Tokayev’s reform efforts with “great respect”, including the fight against corruption, the abolition of the death penalty, the establishment of a constitutional court, and the strengthening of parliament.
As the global community seeks sustainable energy solutions, the German-Kazakh partnership exemplifies the power of international collaboration in pioneering renewable energy technologies. The construction of the green hydrogen plant is a testament to this commitment and a beacon of hope for a sustainable, greener future.
