The Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) have agreed to explore the prospects for using green hydrogen.The Director of Regional Programs in Central Asia at GIZ, Torsten Brezina, told this in an interview with the online publication Business Turkmenistan during the Central Asian Climate Change Conference (CACCC 2024), held from May 27 to 30 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
As Torsten Brezina noted, on behalf of the German government and with the support of the European Union, GIZ is implementing a program in Turkmenistan aimed at fulfilling the national climate strategy as part of the "Green Central Asia" initiative.
The program includes the development of renewable energy sources and the reduction of methane emissions.Turkmenistan's Ministry of Energy and the state concern Turkmengaz will collaborate with GIZ to develop technological solutions and strategies in the field of renewable energy.
GIZ plans to explore pilot technological approaches to reduce methane emissions and train local specialists in renewable energy sources. The organization also intends to cooperate with the State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan in the city of Mary, seeing significant potential for further development in this institution.
An important aspect is the establishment of partnerships between Turkmen and European institutions and businesses to introduce modern technologies in Turkmenistan. A crucial part of GIZ's work is raising public awareness about new technologies and demonstrating successful pilot projects, which will create a solid foundation for attracting potential investors, including foreign ones.
GIZ's portfolio in Turkmenistan under the "Green Central Asia" initiative already includes various programs such as climate-resilient land use and integrated water management, considering the reduction of water resources due to climate change.
The new climate risk management program aims to prepare for increasing risks associated with climate change, such as floods and droughts.GIZ will continue close cooperation with the government of Turkmenistan to implement these initiatives, Torsten Brezina noted.