U.S., Kazakhstan discuss nuclear safety, energy cooperation

U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz met here Wednesday with his Kazakh counterpart, Kanat Bozumbayev, to discuss ways to “strengthen nuclear safety” in Central Asia and bolster bilateral cooperation on oil and gas.

“We have come face to face with the Kazakh side to discuss what has been done before and what we need to do to strengthen nuclear safety,” Moniz told a press conference following the 11th meeting of the KazakhU.S. Special Commission on Energy Partnership in Astana.

During the meeting the parties discussed the process of conversion of the three Kazakh reactors at the Institute of Nuclear Physics, where U.S. specialists are assisting Kazakhstan in converting highly enriched uranium to lower grade fuel.

The United States is also working with Kazakhstan in the construction of a training center for nuclear safety in the city of Almaty, which is expected to open its doors this year.

“I would like to thank the government and president (Nursultan Nazarbayev) for the fact that Kazakhstan has been our partner in the field of nuclear safety for many years. Kazakhstan played a significant role in reaching an agreement with Iran. We will continue our cooperation with a focus on the development of clean energy,” Moniz said.

He said that U.S. President Barack Obama extended his gratitude for Nazarbayev’s active participation in last week’s Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.

Energy Minister Bozumbayev expressed Kazakhstan’s interest in benefitting from U.S. knowhow and experience in the transition to green energy.

“The United States has made progress in this direction. U.S. experience in the development of legislation to support clean energy for us is priceless,” the Kazakh minister said.

The sides also discussed cooperation in the oil and gas sector.

ExxonMobil and Chevron are the largest U.S. companies involved in the development of Kazakhstan’s major oil and gas fields: Kashagan and Tengiz.

“American companies are involved in the major projects in Kazakhstan. We discussed how to increase production at Tengiz and Kashagan,” Moniz said.

Moniz said he would meet with Nazarbayev on Thursday to discuss the Kazakh president’s vision of a transition to clean energy by 2050 and further energy cooperation with the United States.

In 2001, the United States and Kazakhstan signed the Declaration on Energy Partnership, which served as the basis for the KazakhU.S. Special Commission on Energy Partnership, which has the status of an intergovernmental commission.