A round table was held in Brussels on the energy potential and green policy of Central Asia. The event was attended by ambassadors of the countries of the region and Mongolia, heads of European companies and research institutes. The moderator was Marat Terterov, founder of the Brussels Energy Club.
According to the press service of the Turkmen diplomatic department in Belgium, Ambassador of Turkmenistan Sapar Palvanov presented the country's energy policy, emphasizing its commitment to diversifying the energy sector and developing renewable energy sources. He noted the significant potential of Turkmenistan in the field of solar energy, where the duration of sunlight reaches 3000 hours per year.
It was noted that in 2021, Turkmenistan adopted a law on renewable energy sources, which regulates legal relations at all stages of renewable energy production and is aimed at attracting foreign investment. Within the framework of this initiative, a research and production center for renewable energy sources was created at the State Energy Institute in the city of Mary.
The Ambassador also spoke about the country's efforts to reduce methane emissions and plans to join the Global Methane Commitment. In June 2023, a Roadmap for the development of international cooperation in this area was approved.
Among the practical steps mentioned were: the opening of the “smart city” of Arkadag using environmentally friendly technologies, the launch of a hybrid power plant in the Balkan velayat based on renewable energy sources with a capacity of 10 MW, and the construction of a solar power plant with a capacity of 100 MW in the Lebap region.
The round table emphasized the importance of the first meeting of the EU-Turkmenistan working group on energy, held in April 2024 in Brussels.
The event concluded with a statement on the need to develop a sustainable energy partnership between the EU and Central Asian countries, including Mongolia. Discussions highlighted the importance of strategic planning, investment and international cooperation to transform the region's energy landscape.