ASTANA – Similar to successful approaches in Latin America, political leadership and effective policies could be crucial for Kazakhstan’s transition to a green economy, Andres Rebolledo, Secretary General of the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE) and Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in Chile, said in an interview with The Astana Times.
Andrés Rebolledo, Secretary General of OLADE and Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in Chile. Photo provided by the author.
Lessons from Latin America
Latin America is one of the world’s most dynamic and resource-rich regions. There are areas with great potential for solar power, and many sites for wind and hydroelectric power. Rich in natural resources, this region has great potential to supply renewable energy.
“We can say that we are the greenest region in the world, not only in the primary energy matrix, but especially in electricity production. Currently, in Latin America we produce 65% of our electricity from renewable and clean sources, the highest percentage of all the world regions analyzed,” Rebolledo said.
However, the challenge is that at least 40% of renewable energy comes from hydropower.
“simply [generated] “It is renewable, but it will be complicated in the medium and long term because of climate change. Currently, there are several countries in Latin America that face problems with electricity supply due to a lack of water resources. Therefore, it is necessary to diversify from the use of only water and to also include non-traditional renewable energies such as solar, wind and technology,” Rebolledo said.
Changes in global market prices for clean energy have favored Latin America as technology costs plummet. According to Rebored, this trend could also benefit Kazakhstan.
“I want to remind people that renewable energy is not only a solution to have a more sustainable economy, but also a more competitive economy. What does that mean? Renewable energy technologies today are cheaper than traditional technologies. So, if you incorporate solar and wind into your matrix, not only will you be more responsible in your efforts to combat climate change, but you will also be more competitive, because at least in many countries in Latin America, and probably in the case of Kazakhstan, that technology will help reduce pressure on the end process of energy prices,” Rebolled said.
The key role of government policies
Reboled He stressed the importance of government policies prioritizing the energy transition.
“This has been a very important political approach in Latin America. At the end of the day, one of the most important elements to move forward is [in energy transition] “The challenge is to make political decisions and mobilize the rest of the players in the power sector,” he said.
“The second point is that it is equally important to have a goal of carbon neutrality in the near future, because it means that every move in political and economic decisions needs to be made. ” In the case of Latin America, many countries have decided to achieve carbon neutrality and net-zero emissions by 2050. That’s why we have set not only an end goal, but also a goal during the phase-out period,” Reboredo said.
Kazakhstan is committed to reaching its carbon neutral goal by 2060 and is developing a roadmap to implement that strategy. The country is also attracting investors to explore the country’s renewable energy potential by: It provides stability and predictability for green investors.
“I have a general idea of the president’s approach. [Tokayev] “The Kazakhstan government has decided to incorporate private investment into the economy, to diversify capital participation from different countries, to add more actors to the economy and not rely on the state sector as the main player in the economy. I think this is a very important element to envision lasting and sustainable economic growth,” Lebozhed said.
Reboredo said open economies were essential for energy-related investments and the success of Latin America’s high-profile emissions reduction plans..
“Although we are a developing country, we have made progress over the past 30 years, and the way to do that has been by opening up our economy and inviting different actors to come to our country,” he said.
Prospects for regional cooperation
To underline the importance of engagement with Chile and the wider Latin American region, reboredo He highlighted the complementary nature of the two economies, particularly in the mining sector, with the Latin American region being particularly rich in critical minerals.
“I think that both countries are very complementary in the mining sector, although they have different mining subsectors. In the case of Latin America, you have regional mines, like copper, but today, in the case of Brazil, you also have mining that is very strategic and important for the energy transition, like lithium and cobalt,” Rebolledo said.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan is developing production of rare earth metals, which are strategic for electronics and clean energy technology components. 15 rare earth depositsThe country is seeking closer cooperation with international partners to discover the rich opportunities these deposits offer.
The Central Asia region may also attract investors due to its geopolitically important location, particularly its access to the Chinese market.
“I think Kazakhstan has a very interesting position on the world map, because it is in the heart of one of the most dynamic regions of the world and has connections. So Kazakhstan is an interesting area for Latin American investors. I really think that we have a role as a platform to invest, not only to provide products and services to Kazakhstan as a domestic market, but also to regions around Kazakhstan, such as China. ,” Rebolledo said.
Role of honorary consul
As Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in Chile, Mr. Reboredo believes that: This is part of his goal to build new partnerships beyond established ones.
“I think this process is very interesting. One of your specific responsibilities is to educate the Chilean people, the private sector and the government about what kind of country Kazakhstan is and what kind of country Kazakhstan is and what kind of close ties we have with Kazakhstan. “To show why it is important to have, what is happening in Kazakhstan in terms of reforms, what Kazakhstan’s economic trends were last year and what will happen in the future,” Rebolgedo explained. .
Chilean companies are interested in exploring Kazakhstan’s mining sector.
“This year, only a few people visited Kazakhstan as tourists. The rest want to do business in the mining sector, which is great because they believe that the two countries are very complementary. Because we know that we have an economic relationship with them. In that sense, I think there are interesting possibilities to participate and do business with them,” he said.
