November 21, 2019

Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan: The United States and Kazakhstan took an important step to strengthen energy cooperation today by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will help establish a market-based Central Asian Regional Electricity Market (CAREM). United States Deputy Assistant Administrator Javier Piedra and Vice Minister of Energy, Republic of Kazakhstan, Sungat Yessimkhanov signed the MOU at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Although each of the five Central Asian countries have their own domestic energy resources, they all share common energy sector objectives and concerns, such as ensuring reliable and secure electricity to meet demand at the lowest cost, while maintaining technical standards and encouraging investment. An improved regional power system would not only save money and enhance energy security and economic stability, it would also facilitate commercial trade transactions and attract investments in the power sectors of all five Central Asian countries.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Piedra noted: “An integrated CAREM will save money and enhance energy security and economic stability; it will also facilitate commercial trade and attract investments in the power sectors of all five Central Asian and neighboring South Asian countries.”

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide support to the Central Asia countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to establish this economically viable and sustainable electricity market. A regional power market will deploy low-cost power from across the Central Asian countries to meet the needs of each country and in support of greater economic and social development. The ultimate objective of CAREM is an integrated power market that ensures fair and consistent power trading that will enable greater economic growth opportunities for all countries.

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USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. USAID’s work advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity, demonstrates American generosity, and promotes a path to recipient self-reliance and resilience. To know more, visit: https://www.usaid.gov/central-asia-regional and USAID/Central Asia’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/USAIDCentralAsia.