Russia and Kazakhstan Discuss Nuclear, Financial Cooperation, and Increased Oil and Gas Transit

Senior officials from Russia and Kazakhstan have been discussing cooperation in the nuclear and financial sectors, as well as expanding oil and gas transit from Russia.

The Russian government's press office said Deputy Russian Prime Minister Alexander Novak met with Magzum Mirzagaliyev, advisor to the Kazakh president, and with Kazakh Energy Minister Erlan Akkenzhenov, The Caspian Post reports citing Interfax.

Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev, and representatives of the Russian and Kazakh energy ministries and the embassies of both countries also attended the meeting.

The officials discussed cooperation within the OPEC+ framework and the energy sector, including electricity, hydropower and renewables. Three coal-fired thermal power plants will be built in Kazakhstan in the cities of Kokshetau, Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk, and two power units at Ekibastuz TPP-2 will be renovated with the involvement of Russian specialists.

Increasing transit of Russian oil and gas through Kazakhstan and the possibility of supplying Russian gas to north and northeast Kazakhstan were discussed, as was the participation of Russian companies in oil projects in Kazakhstan, as well as potential cooperation in peaceful nuclear energy and in the financial and banking sectors.

"Despite unceasing external pressure from the West, Kazakhstan confirms its status as our closest ally and strategic partner [...] Trade, economic and investment cooperation is going well, and large-scale joint projects are evolving in industrial cooperation, energy, transport infrastructure, agriculture and the digital economy," Novak is quoted as saying.