OREANDA-NEWS. February 18, 2011. United Nations Development Programme in Kazakhstan and Kazakhstan Electricity Association signed the Memorandum of Cooperation on Development of Renewable Energy Sources in Kazakhstan. The Parties’ joint efforts aim to transfer the outcomes of the UNDP Wind Energy Project and facilitate sustainable operations of the Association’s RES Committee.

‘UNDP has been engaged in the development of renewable energy sources for 12 years. During this period, UNDP has assisted the Government in developing and improving the legal framework and state regulation of renewable energy sources (RES). Technical assistance included analysis of the wind potential in 15 regions of Kazakhstan, development of the first Wind Atlas of Kazakhstan and support of the first RES projects in Kazakhstan. However, the joint project of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, UNDP and the Global Environment Facility ‘Kazakhstan - Wind Power Market Development Initiative’ is nearing completion. To further sustainable development of wind energy and renewable energy sources in Kazakhstan, UNDP is willing to transfer all the project outcomes to the Kazakhstani side’, said Stephen Tull, UNDP Resident Representative/UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan.

The RES Committee was set up within Kazakhstan Electricity Association to develop renewable energy sources and will continue alternative energy initiatives launched by UNDP. ‘This meets the interests of consumers and the economy. Kazakhstan has a huge wind potential, which should be used to diversify electric power generation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of Kyoto Protocol commitments of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Key objectives of the Association are to participate in the development of the regulatory framework and to support RES projects of different scale in Kazakhstan’, said Chairman of Kazakhstan Electricity Association Almasadam Satkaliyev.