Astana, Kazakhstan, Oct. 28
By Daniar Mukhtarov - Trend:
The US appreciates Kazakhstan's multivector foreign and economic policy, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Hoagland told reporters Oct. 27 in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Hoagland said the stance of the US is same for all countries, producing oil and gas, adding that the US wants to have a predictable energy market.
He was responding to a request by reporters to comment on a recent statement by the Energy Ministry of Kazakhstan. Earlier, the ministry said that due to the sanctions against Russia, it is studying optional routes for oil exports that will be alternative to the route running to Russia.
In particular, the Kazakh ministry said China is the most potentially large market for Kazakhstan's oil. Another alternative is the option involving Iran, and the third is the export through Azerbaijan.
Hoagland said he can't predict what kind of projects will be proposed in the future, but the US will be definitely ready to work with Kazakhstan, which is considered as a reliable partner by the US.
He went on to note that the US is pleased that Kazakhstan has a significant role in the global energy market.
Hoagland said that today other ways of producing the energy are actively developing, except for the hydrocarbons, adding that the matter rests in renewable sources and nuclear power.
He noted that Kazakhstan today plays an important role in their development.
Hoagland said he met Oct. 27 with the Energy Minister of Kazakhstan Vladimir Shkolnik, and mulled the mentioned issues.
He said the topic of the upcoming EXPO in Astana will be the energy of the future, adding that the US, for its part, is encouraging the US companies to support the event.
Hoagland added that this is an example of the fact that Kazakhstan is taking a leading role on the world energy stage.
Edited by SI