On April 19, 2024, in the city of Astana, a roundtable discussion took place on the topic: "Prospects for the Development of Bilateral Renewable Energy Contracts and Balancing Issues," organized by the Renewable Energy Association "Qazaq Green" with the support of the global GIZ project "Development of Climate Policy Potential in Southeastern and Eastern European Countries, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia" (CDCP).

Among the participants at the forum was Zhomart Nurkanov, Deputy Director of Business Development at TGS-Energy LTD. Chairperson of the Qazaq Green Board, Sospanova A.S., presented the current situation regarding bilateral renewable energy contracts in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Craig Menzies, Head of the Energy Department at Global Factor Consulting, provided an overview of international experience in applying corporate PPAs, including success factors and common issues.

Addressing the requirements for balancing by the system operator concerning bilateral renewable energy projects, Zhеnis Duysenov, Director of the Department of Development at the National Electricity Grid JSC "KEGOC," shared insights. Daurеn Zakiryаnov, Project Development Manager at Sungrow Renewables Development, presented Sungrow's interesting experience in implementing energy storage systems.

The main theme of the meeting revolved around the relevance of introducing a system of bilateral PPA contracts in Kazakhstan, which could serve as an alternative to auctions for selecting renewable energy projects. To ensure the effective functioning of this new mechanism, the development of clear legislative rules is deemed appropriate.

Other aspects of bilateral contracts and issues in the balancing market were also discussed. Zhomart Nurkanov noted that the rapid development of renewable energy generation facilities in Kazakhstan and the region is fostering increased interest from leading international equipment manufacturers and Kazakh investors in establishing production facilities in our country. This, essentially, lays the groundwork for creating an industry for the production of almost the entire chain of energy equipment elements, including photovoltaic modules, energy storage systems, towers, generators, and wind turbine blades. This is important for enhancing the country's value and achieving the goal of doubling GDP by 2029. However, investors' aspirations ultimately face the price non-competitiveness of future products due to the lack of sufficient and effective measures to protect the domestic market. Zhomart Nurkanov suggested additional stimulus measures to encourage the use of domestically produced equipment in renewable energy projects, such as exempting these renewable energy facilities from the mandatory requirement to finance renewable energy imbalances and allowing bilateral PPA contracts for these renewable energy projects with capacities of up to 5 MW.

On April 17, 2024, in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, a business forum was held with the participation of leading political and business leaders of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. The First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, A.A. Kasymaliev, and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, S.M. Zhumangarin, opened the forum, the aim of which was to strengthen the trade and economic ties between the two countries.

At the event, which took place ahead of the official visit of the Kyrgyz leader to Kazakhstan, representatives of the business communities discussed prospects and new opportunities for cooperation. Among the major agreements was a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Kazakhstani company TGS-Energy Limited and the National Investment Agency under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic. "According to this document, it is planned to implement a project to build a solar power plant in Kyrgyzstan with a capacity of 250 MW and an expected investment volume of up to 200 million US dollars. Thus, the total volume of planned construction of solar power plants in the Kyrgyz Republic by subsidiaries of  'TechnoGroupService' LLP is 300 MW," said Abenov K.G., a Member of the Board of Directors of 'TechnoGroupService' LLP.

A meeting also took place at the EXPO venue with the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Issyk-Kul Region, Daliyev U.E., during which the Director of 'Kun Bulagy' LLC Beishenaliev I.A. reported on the current status of the implementation of the 50 MW solar power plant project 'Kun Bulagy' and the approval of the Investment Agreement with the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Almaty, Kazakhstan - March 30, 2024: As part of the Executive MBA educational program at the Graduate School of Business of Nazarbayev University (GSB NU), a detailed analysis of the case "In Search of the Blue Ocean in the Renewable Energy Industry of Kazakhstan" was conducted. The case was jointly developed by LLP "TechnoGroupService" and Professor Chet Borucki. The case was examined as part of the Emerging Markets course with the participation of Zhomart Mominbaev, a partner at LLP "TechnoGroupService," and Venkat Subramanian, Deputy Dean of GSB for Research and Development.

The analytical seminar became not only an opportunity for Executive MBA students of GSB NU to deepen their understanding of the dynamics of the renewable energy sector in Kazakhstan but also a unique chance to ask direct questions to industry leaders. Zhomart Mominbaev actively shared his experience and approaches to business development in this promising area, emphasizing the importance of innovative strategies for success.

The event took place in an interactive format, allowing participants not only to study the case but also to apply theoretical knowledge in practice by discussing current issues and proposals. According to the students, participating in such sessions significantly enriches the educational process, providing them with an opportunity to understand the real challenges and prospects for the development of the domestic renewable energy market.

The discussion highlighted the significance of collaboration between academic circles and the business community in researching and developing new approaches and strategies in the renewable energy sector. Such meetings not only contribute to the exchange of knowledge and experience but also stimulate students to develop innovative solutions capable of facilitating Kazakhstan's transition to more sustainable energy sources.

At the end of his presentation, Zhomart Mominbaev recommended that Executive MBA students of GSB NU read the books "How to Tame a Unicorn?" by D. Satpaev in collaboration with "Breakthrough Innovations, Global Trends, Risks, and Opportunities for Kazakhstan" and "The Future We Choose" by C. Figueres and T. Rivett-Carnac.

On March 14 in Astana, a roundtable discussion titled "Financing Renewable Energy Projects in the Republic of Kazakhstan" was held, organized by the "Qazaq Green" association with the support of the global GIZ project "Capacity Development for Climate Policy in South-Eastern and Eastern Europe, South Caucasus, and Central Asia" (CDCP).

Representatives from major financial organizations participated in the event, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Development Bank of Kazakhstan (DBK), and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The session took place in a hybrid format, allowing participants to attend both in person and remotely.

During the roundtable, Zh.B. Mominbayev, a partner at "TechnoGroupService" LLP raised important issues related to the current aspects of financing projects in the field of renewable energy. Key topics included discussions on the financing conditions of auctions considering low tariffs, financing opportunities for projects using domestic technologies, risks associated with energy storage system requirements when developing capacity allocation schemes for past and planned renewable energy auctions, as well as the possibility of financing projects with client-builder affiliations.

The discussion highlighted the relevance of financing issues in the renewable energy sector, especially in the context of developing projects using auction tariffs. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the "Qazaq Green" association, N.N. Kapenov, reported on maintaining high interest rates for loans in the national currency. Roundtable participants shared their experiences and expressed readiness to develop joint solutions aimed at improving conditions for attracting investments into the industry.

The event served as a platform for dialogue among government bodies, financial institutions, and business representatives, which is a key factor for the further development and support of renewable energy projects in the region. The importance of such meetings cannot be overstated, as they contribute to the development of effective financing mechanisms and the sustainable development of the renewable energy sector in Kazakhstan.