The Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan; UNECE; JSC “KazTransGas”; Natural Gas Vehicles Association of Kazakhstan; and JSC “Zhasyl Damu” jointly organized workshop "Support to Decarbonization of Transport in Kazakhstan."
The Republic of Kazakhstan announced its intention to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. One of the main directions of decarbonization of economy is the transition from coal and oil products to natural gas, including in the transport sector. Decarbonization of sectors of the economy requires close interaction and coordination of action plans of various sectoral departments and territorial authorities, as well as participation of business with support of the expert community.
Gasification of transport requires formation of an appropriate high-tech safe infrastructure in the country, development of necessary regulatory support, synchronization of development of the gas filling infrastructure and maintenance of gas equipment, as well as expansion of the vehicle fleet using gas as a motor fuel, in particular, compressed and liquefied natural gas (CNG and LNG). Accordingly, development of the gas segment of automotive engineering is required, as well as services associated with retrofitting of gasoline and diesel vehicles in operation with installation of gas equipment.
Switching of a significant share of vehicles to natural gas (i) allows to have positive effects on the improved air quality in urban areas, which will have a positive effect on health of population; (ii) indirectly contributes to an increase in the labor productivity of population; (iii) reduces costs of households, employers and the state on health care, maintenance of vehicles; (iv) mitigates the negative impact on flora and fauna, and more.
The workshop discussed the issues of decarbonization of transport sector in Kazakhstan by using CNG and LNG to help achieve the goal of Kazakhstan's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to achievement of the Paris Agreement goal until 2030 and the consistent achievement of Kazakhstan's carbon neutrality by 2060.
Representatives of various government bodies, international and national experts, entrepreneurs representing the interests of the sector participated in the workshop and discussed current industry policies, regulatory support, prospects for development of the natural gas vehicles market in Kazakhstan in the context of reducing the carbon footprint of transport services. The discussion also touched upon the necessary measures of state support and the required synchronization of action plans.