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As UN local weather talks kicked off within the Egyptian resort metropolis of Sharm El-Sheikh, the European Union is transferring ahead to safe partnerships with growing international locations on hydrogen and clear applied sciences, beginning with Kazakhstan.
In its REPowerEU plan introduced in Could, the European Fee set out an goal to provide ten million tons of renewable hydrogen in Europe and import the identical quantity by 2030.
And it’s now transferring ahead to safe these provides. On the COP27 convention in Egypt on Monday (7 November), Fee President Ursula von der Leyen signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov establishing a “strategic partnership” between the 2 sides.
The partnership establishes “nearer financial and industrial integration” in uncooked supplies, batteries and renewable hydrogen by means of the identification of joint tasks, the alignment of environmental and social requirements in addition to the modernisation of mining and refining processes.
“A safe and sustainable provide of uncooked supplies, refined supplies and renewable hydrogen is a key layer to assist construct a brand new, cleaner basis for our economies,” Fee President Ursula von der Leyen mentioned in an announcement.
“We’re principally opening a brand new chapter in our already deep relationship,” she added in feedback on the signature ceremony.
The EU already represents 60% of overseas direct funding in Kazakhstan, von der Leyen underlined, saying the cooperation with Astana might be key to reaching the EU’s local weather goals.
As a part of the partnership, the EU and Kazakhstan have dedicated to develop “a roadmap for 2023-2024”, with concrete joint actions agreed inside six months of the signature of the partnership.
Prime Minister Smailov mentioned his nation was “prepared to supply European corporations beneficial situations and the required infrastructure in making the choice to relocate to Kazakhstan,” and invited the Fee President to go to Astana in 2023 to rejoice 30 years of diplomatic relations.
Kazakhstan goals to change into a number one producer and exporter of renewable hydrogen. In October, the federal government concluded an settlement with European renewables group Svevind to construct one of many world’s 5 largest inexperienced hydrogen manufacturing amenities, in accordance with The Astana Occasions.
The mission might be constructed within the Mangystau Area close to the Caspian Sea, and plans to start out producing inexperienced hydrogen by 2030 from photo voltaic and wind energy.
Additional agreements on hydrogen taking form
Different bilateral cooperation agreements are underway at COP27 as a part of the EU’s diplomatic efforts. On Tuesday (8 November), von der Leyen will meet with the President of Namibia, Hage Geingob, to signal an analogous partnership.
And additional settlement between the European Union and Egypt on renewable vitality and inexperienced hydrogen can be anticipated to be signed in the course of the COP27 local weather convention.
The settlement will embrace “certification of renewable hydrogen which may then be traded between Egypt and Europe,” an EU official defined.
This partnership comes after a gathering in July between Fee President Ursula von der Leyen and Egyptian President El Sisi, the place the leaders agreed to cooperate on local weather, vitality and industrial transformation challenges forward of COP27.
The EU official additionally talked about the current ‘inexperienced vitality deal’ between the EU and Morocco, signed in October by European Fee deputy head Frans Timmermans and Moroccan chief diplomat Nasser Bourita with the hope it’s going to bolster cooperation on renewable vitality.
“Once more a mutually useful relationship each for Europe and our companions within the South, who clearly have loads of renewable potential by way of photo voltaic and wind vitality,” the official commented.
[Edited by Frédéric Simon]
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