PRESS-RELEASE

CASPIAN BASIN GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION TRAINING PROGRAM (CTP)
Caspian basin greenhouse gas emissions reduction training program (CTP)

Almaty March 10, 2006

According to the signed Memorandum of Understanding Caspian basin greenhouse gas emissions reduction training program (CTP), financed by Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), completes its implementation in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan March 31, 2006. The total sum of the assistance to these three countries, granted by CIDA for CTP amounted to 3,688,670 Canadian dollars. In the Republic of Kazakhstan this program had been implemented by Climate Change Coordination Center (CCCC) in close collaboration with the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) and its partners IRIS Environmental Systems Inc. (IRIS) and ICF Consulting Canada Inc. (ICF).
The goals of the CTP were:

strengthen the capacity of Kazakhstan to reduce future growth in GHG emissions;

create an environment more conducive to future private sector investment in the energy sector.

This program included trainings, workshops, lectures with the participation of highly qualified Canadian trainers. From 2003 6 training workshops had been carried out for the local specialists, managers and operators in the energy generation, transmission and use sector in order to determine and develop the high-quality projects on greenhouse gases emissions reduction that address technical, financial, managerial and policy needs of JI/CDM project preparation under the Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework convention on Climate Change. Also the cross issues of gender equality and ecological sustainability had been discussed.

Also under the CTP training trip to Canada had been organized for the representatives of governmental structures, national companies and business.

In the framework of CTP the following outcomes had been archived:

(i) Increased awareness of climate change issues and JI/CDM business opportunities in both the public and private-sector domains of energy production, and among senior government officials, of the policy and regulatory requirements to attract JI/CDM investments.

(ii) A strengthened pool of project developers able to prepare GHG investment proposals that meet anticipated JI/CDM rules and investor needs.

(iii) Strengthened Canada-Caspian Basin linkages in the private sector, as well as enhanced Canadian awareness of GHG emissions reduction opportunities in the Caspian Basin Region.

March 10, 2006 a presentation of certificates ceremony for 12 Kazakhstan specialists, who had studied in the full series of trainings under the programme, will be held in Almaty. From the Canadian side Ms. Susan Segan, CIDA representative, Peter Melnichyuk, director and programme manager, and Rob Luthian will take part in this ceremony.

The presentation of certificates ceremony will be held on March 10, 2006 at 10:00 o’clock at the hotel “Dostyk”, Almaty.

Contacts:
Gulmira Sergazina – cellular: 8300 370 3944
Climate Change Coordination Center
20 Abai str., Room 102
Astana, 010000
Tel: +7 3172 717170/73/69
Fax: + 7 3172 324738
e-mail: info@climate.kz
URL: http://www.climate.kz