№ 5 (49), 2011 - KazEnergy

expert opinionKazakhstanprovides for todaymore than 20% ofthe energy needsof the EuropeanUnion, and by 2015this number couldrise to the quarterof energy suppliesneeded by theunited Europe.are intended to long-term working in the republicand participation in the developmentof its energy natural resources.Let me note that more than 40% of all foreigninvestments to Kazakhstan are comingfrom EU countries. Two-thirds of thisvolume exclusively fall to investments in oiland gas sector of the country. It's also importantthat Kazakhstan provides for todaymore than 20% of the energy needs of theEuropean Union, and by 2015 this numbercould rise to the quarter of energy suppliesneeded by the united Europe.Without a doubt, one of the most importantconnecting links between Kazakhstan andthe EU, is the idea of laying the Trans-Caspianpipeline within the framework of the«Nabucco» project. Brussels is hoping thatKazakhstan therein will be still involved,and by this way the volume of energy cooperationbetween the two sides could dramaticallyincrease.In this case, for their part, the Europeancompanies would increase their investments(and they have been repeatedly requested ofthis by Kazakh side at the highest level) intonew technologies (and not only in oil andgas) and non-energy sectors of the economyof the country. But just in the case, of course,if Astana connects to the «Nabucco» project,and through its own channels motivates itsCentral Asian neighbors and Azerbaijan forthe participation in the project.Yes, here it is certainly needed to considerthe fact that Kazakhstan plays not a leadingrole in commercial hands of «Nabucco»,because the main «gas players» here forEurope are Turkmenistan, in part - Uzbekistanand Azerbaijan. But political power ofAstana and personally of President NursultanNazarbayev in this region is very high,which may under certain circumstances providethe «Nabucco» some support.For Europeans, it is also important that Kazakhstancoordinate its energy policy withneighboring Central Asian countries, andattract European companies to the regionfor establishing delivery of energy resourcesto European markets. Such cooperation iscarried out within the framework of the internationalproject TRACECA, as well as theprograms of «International transportation ofoil and natural gas to Europe».Also, it is essential that European energycompanies have already settled, and accustomedto work in new conditions of Kazakhstan.And, taking into account, the close politicalties between the EU and Kazakhstan,energy cooperation - including the investmentarea, is quite promising for the future.But now, it slightly «dipped» due to seriousfinancial and economic problems facing theEuropean Union.But Astana and Brussels preserve the generalvector for understanding and cooperation,although the amounts of such cooperationwill be gradually declining for quiteobjective reasons. And one of them - a remarkableupsurge from China in working oninvestment projects in the energy sector ofKazakhstan.Beijing calculates the Kazakh energysector "for long"The current economic relations betweenChina and other countries, especially in thefield of the energy sector, are based exclusivelyon a pragmatic ground, deprived offrills of «high politics» and, as a rule, arebased not only on a «friendship on business94 № 5 (49), 2011