At the Climate Summit COP27, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen signed a memorandum on green hydrogen, batteries and raw materials.
The partnership provides for close economic and industrial integration, harmonization of environmental and social standards, as well as modernization of mining and processing processes, reports EURACTIV.
The article noted that the EU REPowerEU plan envisages the production of 10 million tons of renewable hydrogen in Europe and the import of the same amount by 2030.
"A secure and sustainable supply of raw materials, petroleum products and renewable hydrogen is a key layer that will help build a new, cleaner foundation for our economies," von der Leyen said. "We are effectively opening a new chapter in our already deep relationship."
She also emphasized that the EU already represents 60% of foreign direct investment in Kazakhstan. And cooperation with Astana will be key to achieving the EU's climate goals.
The article emphasized that Kazakhstan should develop a road map for 2023-2024 with specific joint actions agreed within six months after signing the partnership.
Smailov said that the country is ready to offer European companies favorable conditions and the necessary infrastructure for making a decision to move to Kazakhstan.
"Kazakhstan aspires to become a leading producer and exporter of renewable hydrogen. In October, the government concluded an agreement with the European renewable energy group Svevind to build one of the world's five largest plants for the production of green hydrogen," the material says.
This plant will be built in the Mangistau region near the Caspian Sea. The production of hydrogen using solar and wind energy should start by 2030.
The authors also noted that the EU plans to sign similar agreements with Namibia and Egypt at COP27.
As EcoPolitic reported before, State Energy Efficiency became a member of the European Alliance for pure hydrogen (European Clean Hydrogen Alliance), which is part of the EU course on industrial decarbonization.