Federal Republic of Germany stands for intensification of bilateral cooperation with Kazakhstan, Federal President of Germany, Horst Kohler, stated during the talks with President Nazarbayev. H. Kohler noted that cooperation between Kazakhstan and Germany should be further intensified, and also interaction in the sphere of small and medium business should be activated.

He also noted the great progress achieved by Kazakhstan in the sphere of socio-economic development and emphasized that “Germany is interested in investing in Kazakhstan”.

Over the last year goods turnover between Kazakhstan and Germany has raised by 26% and made USD 3 bln.  President noted that this was reached due to the agreements concluded during his last year visit to Germany. He also stressed that Germany is a reliable friend and an important foreign economic partner for Kazakhstan. Our countries support active bilateral contacts on the level of parliaments, governments, ministries and business communities.

N. Nazarbayev also highlighted that Germany is one of the main economic partners of Kazakhstan in Europe, while our country is Germany’s leading partner in Central Asia. Thus, German investments in Kazakhstan economy have reached USD 4 bln.

III Eurasian Energy Forum “Global challenges – energy solutions” started its work in Astana. Prime Minister Karim Massimov, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Turkey Mehmet Hilmi Guler, World Energy Council’s Regional Coordinator for Europe and Central Asia Slav Slavov, heads of KZ state bodies, national companies, leading international oil and gas companies took part in it.

Issues regarding global energy challenges and Kazakhstan’s strategy of oil and gas sector development were discussed.

Legal work on the “Kashagan” project will be completed before October 25th, 2008. This was stated by RK Prime Minister, Karim Massimov, at the opening of the III Eurasian Energy Forum. “Because of the controversial situation over the development of the Kashagan oil field, I stated that it is necessary to respect the interests of both parties – the Republic of Kazakhstan and the investors. As a result of strenuous talks with all the participants of the consortium, the Government will increase its share significantly up to 16.83% and Kazakhstan will receive a compensation for the changes in the completion period of the project”, K. Massimov said.

In 2007, oil and condensed gas production in Kazakhstan made up 67 million tons, 4% up against 2006. This was announced by Mr. Sauat Mynbayev, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, at the III KazEnergy Eurasian Energy Forum.

In 2008, production is expected to reach 70 million tons, which is 1.8% of global production. Given the ratio of reserves and production, there are bright prospects of growth, the Minister said. “As for the internal market, domestic refineries processed over 12 million tons in 2007, 3.2% up against 2006. Oil exports in 2007 totaled 60 million tons; this year we expect this indicator to further increase; by 2015 we intend to produce about 100 million tons per annum, most part of which will be exported”, S. Mynbayev said.

Expansion of the CPC capacities is to be completed by 2012. “The issue of expanding the CPC capacities from the current 32.9 million tons (including 25 million tons for Kazakh oil) up to 67 million tons a year has been discussed for a long time and is almost finalized. May 7, 2008 Kazakhstan and Russia signed a respective memorandum, which was coordinated with key players of the project – Transneft, KazMunaiGaz, Chevron, Exxon and others. There are just some outstanding procedural questions to settle”, Mr. Mynbayev said.

“Natural gas is growing promising for Kazakhstan: its proven and estimated reserves (taking into account some new fields) stand at 3.3 trillion cubic meters; potential reserves could be 6-8 trillion cubic meters, which is 1.7% of global reserves. Most of the reserves are concentrated in fields ready for commercial development – such as Tengiz, Kashagan, Korolevskoye, and oil-and-condensed gas fields such as Karachaganak, Zhanazhol and some others”, Minister Mynbayev said. “In 2007, Kazakhstan produced 29.6 billion cubic meters of gas; production is estimated to reach 42 billion cubic meters by 2010; 62 billion cubic meters”, the Minister said. A priority is stable gas supplies in the domestic market. “At the moment, gas to northern regions is supplied by Russia. One of the acute issues as of today is to ensure stable gas supplies to southern regions that have been traditionally “fed” by Uzbek gas; in cold periods we suffer from gas shortages in these regions”, the Minister elaborated.

To boost energy security and decrease dependence on external supplies, the nation is considering construction of Beineu-Bozoi-Akbulak main gas pipeline to be completed by 2014. “The pipe will allow unhindered supplies of gas from western to southern regions… so far we are talking of 5 billion cubic meters”, S. Mynbayev said.

“Kazakhstan has the potential to become a world leader in uranium extraction by 2010, with planned 15,400 tons annually”, Sauat Mynbayev said.

Currently NJSC “Kazatomprom” is working on the realization of a vertically integrated company with participation in all the stages of the nuclear-fuel cycle. “According to our analysis in 2015 Kazakhstan can expect its uranium extraction to increase from 19% to 32% of the world volumes. “Kazatomprom” also has the possibility to take part in the construction of atomic electric stations”, - concluded the Minister.

Kazakh Secretary of State Kanat Saudabayev received Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBT) Tibora Totha on Sep 3.

Mr. Saudabayev stated that Kazakhstan stands for early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and urges other countries to follow its model of nuclear disarmament and peaceful foreign policy. “Proceeding from own positive experience, we consider that having renounced nuclear weapons and having built equal mutually beneficial cooperation relations with all states, Kazakhstan ensured its sovereignty and national security and provided best conditions for its development. We consider that only all-round renunciation of nuclear weapons can provide peace and security on our planet”, K. Saudabayev highlighted.

Kazakhstan signed the CTBT in 1996 and ratified it in 2001.

During the meeting with Kazakh Prime Minister K.Massimov has and Executive Secretary of Preparatory Commission of Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) Tibor Toth in Ukimet Uiy, the sides discussed some issues on cooperation development in the sphere of international relations and nuclear non-proliferation.

During the meeting there was noted a significant contribution of Kazakhstan to disarmament and non-proliferation of mass destruction weapons.

K.Massimov emphasized that Kazakhstan stands for nuclear disarmament and discharge of obligations by all member-states of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The Prime Minister emphasized that carrying out of “Integrated field experiment in Kazakhstan 2008” will have important significance for raise of CTBTO activity. “We are ready to do all our best for successful completion of this wide-ranging international project”, K.Massimov said.

Participants of the meeting expressed confidence in successful carrying out of the project and interest in further strengthening of cooperation between Kazakhstan and CTBTO.