VIP TOUR TO THE EXPO CITY: EXPO 2026 “Future Energy”

Ministers and Heads of Delegations will receive a guided tour on the main pavilion of the Exhibition “Nur-Alem” (Sphere).

OPEN-AIR CULTURAL SHOW “SYMPHONY OF A GREAT STEPPE”

Amphitheater, Exhibition Complex.

Invitation only.

REGISTRATION

Early registration is requested due to security reasons. Coffee provided.

CONFERENCE PHOTO

Ministers and Heads of Governmental Delegations and International Organizations

OPENING CEREMONY AND SPECIAL ADDRESSES

Main Conference Hall, Congress Center

Special addresses:

• Bakytzhan Sagintayev, Prime-Minister, Kazakhstan
• Shamshad Akhtar, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations,Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP)
• Olga Algayerova, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
• Cihan Sultanoğlu, UN Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (RBEC), UN Commissioner-General for EXPO 2026 in Astana

Chair:

• Timur Kulibayev, Chairman, KAZENERGY Association

 

INTRODUCTORY VIDEO

1. MINISTERIAL DIALOGUE:

MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

Main Conference Hall, Congress Center

 

Chair: LI Yong, Director General, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

Keynote address:

• Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President for Energy Union, European Commission

Dialogue Participants:

• Kanat Bozumbayev, Minister of Energy, Kazakhstan
• Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President for Energy Union, European Commission
• Alexander Novak, Minister of Energy, Russian Federation
• Khalid A. Al-Falih, Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia
• Rachel Kyte, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and CEO of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL)

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development requires countries to pursue concerted and accelerated action on sustainable energy in their national programs to reconcile the world’s growing need for energy services with mitigating the impacts of energy resource development and use.

While energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy can address future energy security and climate change concerns, they do not respond to all the questions that sustainable energy systems pose. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology and managing methane emissions throughout the fossil energy value chain can help meet ambitious CO2 emission reduction targets, while fossil fuels remain part of the energy system. This will thereby allow fossil fuels to become “part of the solution”. All technologies have a role to play in an energy system guided by rational economics.

The ministerial dialogues will be introduced through the perspectives of distinguished guest speaker who will share his view of a future energy system and the consequences and challenges ahead in getting there. Ministers may then share experiences and views on the outlook in the coming decades and discuss opportunities and synergies with a particular focus on the interplay between renewable energy and fossil fuels.

In an interactive panel discussion ministers, heads of international organizations and business leaders will be invited to discuss aspects of:

• Energy balances and energy security
• Oil price developments and attainment of energy-related sustainable development goals
• Future strategies for fossil based economies and related paradigm shifts
• Easing tension between climate goals and development for fossil-based economies
• The changing architecture of global energy markets

PRESS CONFERENCE

Press Center, Congress Center

By invitation only

JOINT NETWORKING LUNCH

Dining Hall, Congress Center

By invitation only

OPENING OF THE EXHIBITION AND WINNERS’ AWARDING CEREMONY OF THE PROJECT “YOUTH – FUTURE ENERGY”

Main Lobby, Congress Center.

MINISTERIAL DIALOGUES – 4 PARALLEL SETS

Energy security, regional trade & infrastructure

Energy-climate-food nexus: Towards a circular economy

Renewable energy in Central Asia

Promoting new technologies & innovations

2. MINISTERIAL DIALOGUE:
ENERGY SECURITY, REGIONAL TRADE & INFRASTRUCTURE

Conference Hall 1, Level 1, Congress Center.

 

Chair: Kairat Abdrakhmanov, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kazakhstan

Discussion starter: Lamberto Zannier, Secretary General, OSCE

Dialogue Participants:

• Mihaly Varga, Minister for National Economy, Hungary
• Ali Ahmad Osmani, Minister of Water and Energy, Afghanistan
• Urban Rusnak, Secretary General, Energy Charter Secretariat
• Natiq Abbassov, Deputy Minister of Energy, Azerbaijan
• Vadim Zakrevsky, Deputy Minister of Energy, Belarus

Energy security remains a major influencing driver in today’s national policy-making. Divergent views on the opportunities, threats, and security of energy trade continue to exist, and there is debate on the future of regional trade and joint infrastructure planning. Regional cooperation can function as an accelerator towards achieving a sustainable energy system, but there needs to be a common view on mutually beneficial economic interdependence.

In an interactive panel discussion ministers, heads of international organizations and business leaders will be invited to discuss aspects of:

• How do obstacles to regional cooperation impede attainment of the energy-related sustainable development goals?
• How can countries assure energy security while transforming their energy balances?
• What are the implications of pursuing energy independence versus energy interdependence?
• What are the most effective means of promoting regional connectivity of energy infrastructure projects?
• What are the key barriers to investment in infrastructure, and what options exist to overcome them?
• What are the most effective recent green finance mechanisms?

 

3. MINISTERIAL DIALOGUE:
ENERGY-CLIMATE-FOOD NEXUS: TOWARDS A CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Conference Hall 3, Level 1, Congress Center.

 

Chair: Scott Foster, Director, Sustainable Energy Division, UNECE

Discussion starter: Graeme Maxton, Secretary General, Club of Rome

Dialogue Participants:

• Askar Myrzakhmetov, Deputy Prime-Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Kazakhstan
• Maximus Johnity Ongkili, Minister of Energy, Green Technology & Water, Malaysia
• Regilio Julien Dodson, Minister of Natural Resources, Suriname
• Andrei-Petrişor Maioreanu, State Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Romania
• Ilia Eloshvili, Deputy Minister of Energy, Georgia
• Seyed Jalaledin Alavi Sabzevari, Deputy Secretary-General, Economic Cooperation Organization

Interactions between the global energy, climate and food systems are complex and major decisions in one sector have great implications on the other. Large-scale hydropower development increases competition for land use for food production while offering water storage and irrigation but also interfering with downstream water resources planning. Circular economy approaches can improve resource efficiency, reduce waste and maintain stability of ecosystems. Cross-sectoral holistic policy-making plays a key role in anticipating potential trade-offs and maximizing synergies while avoiding negative impacts for livelihoods and the environment.

In an interactive panel discussion ministers, heads of international organizations and leaders from global partnership platforms will be invited to discuss aspects of:

• How can policy frameworks that address water, food and energy comprehensively advance attainment of the sustainable development agenda?
• Can regional cooperation maximize synergies and reduce competition?
• What innovative approaches exist for circular economy and resource efficiency?
• Can holistic energy policies be embraced in national action plans?
• Is it possible to act with crosscutting approaches to achieve the sustainable development goals given the current institutional arrangements?

What are effective means for enhancing consumer awareness and change behaviors?

4. MINISTERIAL DIALOGUE:

RENEWABLE ENERGY IN CENTRAL ASIA

Conference Hall 4, Level 2, Congress Center.

Chair: Sakari Oksanen, Deputy Director-General, IRENA

Discussion starter: Mohamed El – Farnawany, Director, Strategic Management & Executive Direction, Chief of Staff, IRENA

Dialogue Participants:

• Kanat Bozumbayev, Minister of Energy, Kazakhstan
• Sulton Rakhimzoda, First Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Tajikistan
• Nurali Yusifbayli, Deputy Chair, State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources, Azerbaijan
• Azamat Omorov, Deputy Chairman, State Committee of Industry, Energy and Subsoil Use, Kyrgyzstan
• Nandita Parshad, Managing Director, Energy and Natural Resources, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
• Arthouros Zervos, Chair, REN21

The countries of Central Asia are taking positive steps to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy. Yet there is a need for additional efforts in the region to strengthen the enabling environments through dedicated policies and regulatory frameworks to catalyze, among others, private sector investments as well as raise awareness about the benefits of renewable energy deployment. The objective of the session is to agree on a specific action plan in promoting renewable energies in Central Asia.

In an interactive panel discussion ministers, heads of international organizations and business leaders will be invited to discuss aspects of:

• What are the regions specific challenges and opportunities in scaling-up the uptake of renewables?
• Which are the main barriers for deployment of renewables in the region?
• Which role can development partners play to increase awareness on the benefits of renewable energy?
• What policy actions should be taken to promote RE in Central Asia?

Release of Communique / RE Actions for Central Asia.

 

5. MINISTERIAL DIALOGUE:
PROMOTING NEW TECHNOLOGIES & INNOVATIONS

Conference Hall 5, Level 2, Congress Center.

 

Chair: Cihan Sultanoğlu, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (RBEC), UN Commissioner-General for EXPO 2026 in Astana

Discussion starter: Paul Simons, Deputy Executive Director, IEA

Dialogue Participants:

• Georgios Stathakis, Minister of Environment and Energy, Greece
• Sergiy Savchuk, Head of the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving, Ukraine
• Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer, Masdar
• Kairat Kelimbetov, Governor, International Finance Center Astana
• Jozsef Toth, President, World Petroleum Council
• Barry Worthington, Executive Director, United States Energy Association

Countries are transforming how they generate, distribute and consume energy. This energy transition will have a fundamental impact on our society and quality of life, but can only be achieved through technological breakthrough and innovation. In particular, big data and new market entrants are changing the traditional landscape. EXPO 2026 Future Energy is a global showcase of most advanced sustainable energy technologies developed around the world. Such technologies can address at the same time energy security as well as climate concerns, but many challenges remain.

In an interactive panel discussion ministers, heads of international organizations and business leaders will be invited to discuss aspects of:

• How are new technologies and innovation transforming the energy sector?
• What are the barriers to increase technology research and development?
• Traditional and new energy service models – how do they compare? What drives the change?
• The role of information technology and big data innovation in energy industry?
• Which successful technology collaborations exist in a national or regional context?
• How could a green technology and investment center in the region support the needed transformation?
• How can countries prepare for the necessary infrastructure changes?

NETWORKING AND COFFEE BREAK

INSIGHTS FROM THE MINISTERIAL DIALOGUES

Main Conference Hall, Congress Center

Chair: Benoit Revaz, State Secretary, Federal Office of Energy, Switzerland

• LI Yong, Director General, United Nations Industrial Development Organization
• Yerzhan Ashikbayev, Deputy minister of Foreign Affairs, Kazakhstan
• Scott Foster, Director, Sustainable Energy Division, UNECE
• Sakari Oksanen, Deputy Director-General, IRENA
• Cihan Sultanoğlu, UN Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (RBEC), UN Commissioner-General for EXPO 2026 in Astana

The current rate of improvement in energy efficiency, the deployment of net low carbon energy solutions, and the provision of sustainable access to modern energy services are insufficient. Energy’s contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will falter in the absence of concrete measures to improve energy productivity, rationalize energy use, optimize energy resources, and deploy both new energy technologies and sustainable energy infrastructure. International cooperation and concrete actions have a role to play.

 

Chairs of five Ministerial Dialogues will provide their insights based on report-back from their respective sessions.

 

CEREMONY – ADOPTING MINISTERIAL DECLARATION

Main Conference Hall, Congress Center

Chair: Kanat Bozumbayev, Minister of Energy, Kazakhstan

• Shamshad Akhtar, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP)
• Olga Algayerova, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

Statements by Heads of Delegations.

• Jiří Koliba, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Czech Republic
• Nataliya Boyko, Deputy Minister of Energy and Coal Industry, Ukraine

Heads of Delegations will be invited to adopt a joint declaration which reaffirms the importance of energy collaboration among countries for tackling common energy challenges and shaping a sustainable energy future for all.

 

ENERGY MINISTERIAL ENDS

MINISTERIAL GALA RECEPTION HOSTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

Restaurant “Sәttj”.

By invitation only.

UN Opening / Introduction  (30 minutes)

Plenary: Hard Talks on “Sustainable Energy of the 21st century – Government meets Industry”   1st Hard Talk: Energy Transition for Sustainable Development       (60 minutes)   Moderated panel discussion –       Why energy transition is vital to sustainable development –       Progress and challenges towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 –       Energy transition strategies – No “one size fits all” solution –       How international  cooperation can reinforce national actions to transform energy systems

2nd Hard Talk: Interplay between Renewable Energy and Fossil Fuels       (60 minutes)   Moderated round table discussion –       Challenges of reconciling tight emissions pathways with development aspirations –       The need to modernise fossil-based economies –       Synergies between renewable energies and fossil fuels –       The role of coal, oil and gas prices

Conclusion / Opening of Tracks

Press Conference for REN21 UNECE RE Status Report launch

Session Findings of UNECE Renewable Energy Status Report 2026 (UNECE, REN21)

Session Energy Efficiency in Buildings: Frame-work Guidelines (UNECE)

Roundtable The Role of Gas in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (UNECE, IGU, WPC)

Session Regional Technology and Investment Center (Kazakhstan, UNDP, ESCWA)

UNDA Workshop Renewable Energy (ESCAP, ECLAC)

 

Session The Socio-Economic Benefits of Renewable Energies (IRENA, UNECE)

Panel Discussion Aligning Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policies (IEA)

Roundtable Coal Mine Methane as an under-valued energy source and the role it can play in transition of the coal industry (UNECE, ICE-CMM Poland, ICE-CMM China)

Roundtable Tracking Progress in Sustainable Energy: GTF Regional Reports & RISE (ECA,ECLAC,ESCAP,ESCWA,UNECE, WB, SE4All)

UNDA Workshop Renewable Energy (ESCAP, ECLAC)

Plenary: Messages from the Sessions / Key discussion points

Press Conference for GTF regional reports & RISE

Session Renewable Energy Pipeline Projects (ESCWA, UNECE, ECA)

Workshop Creating the Business Case for Energy Efficiency: Engaging Governments with Industry (UNECE, UNIDO, C2E2, ESCWA, BG Consulting Engineers)

Session Best Practices in High Efficiency-Low Emissions Coal Power Generation (UNECE, IEA, WCA)

Session Regional cooperation on Renewable Energy in Central Asia (IRENA,UNECE)

UNDA Training Training to the National Officials and Experts Responsible for Sustainable Energy Data Collection (UNECE, ESCAP)

 

Session Renewable Energy Pipeline Projects (ESCWA, UNECE, ECA)

Workshop Creating the Business Case for Energy Efficiency (cont.)

Session Best Practices in High Efficiency-Low Emissions Coal Power Generation (cont.)

Panel Discussion System Integration of Renewable Energy from a Regional Perspective (IEA)

UNDA Training Training to the National Officials and Experts Responsible for Sustainable Energy Data Collection (UNECE, ESCAP)

 

Lunch Break

Session Renewable Energy Pipeline Projects (UNECE, ESCWA)

Workshop Creating the Business Case for Energy Efficiency (cont.)

Panel Discussion Coal mine methane and its strategic role in climate change mitigation (UNECE, EPA, GMI, PNNL)

Session UN Day Dialogues  on Energy for Sustainable Development (UNDP, …)

UNDA Training Training to the National Officials and Experts Responsible for Sustainable Energy Data Collection (UNECE,ESCAP)

 

Session From Renewable Energy Pipeline Projects to Match-making (UNECE, EU TAF)

Workshop Creating the Business Case for Energy Efficiency  (cont.)

Workshop Using UNFC to Assess Methane Resources (UNECE)

Session UN Day Dialogues on Energy for Sustainable Development (UNDP, …)

UNDA Training Training to the National Officials and Experts Responsible for Sustainable Energy Data Collection (UNECE,ESCAP)

 

Plenary: Messages from the Sessions / Key discussion points

Session Matchmaking for Renewable Energy Investments (UNECE, EU TAF)

Session Smart Cities (UNECE, swiss-universities, C2E2)

Workshop UNFC: Energy & Materials from waste (UNECE, IAEA)

Workshop Pathways to Sustainable  Energy: Project Kickoff and Scenario Scoping (UNECE)

SPECA Workshop 21th Session of the Thematic Working Group on Water, Energy and Environment (UNECE, ESCAP; UNDP)

 

Session Renewable Energy Finance (IRENA, EBRD)

Session Smart Cities (UNECE, swiss-universities, C2E2)

Workshop UNFC: Energy & Materials from waste (UNECE, IAEA)

Workshop Pathways to Sustainable Energy: Policy and Technology Options to Achieve Sustainable Energy (UNECE)

SPECA Workshop 21th Session of the Thematic Working Group on Water, Energy and Environment (UNECE, ESCAP; UNDP)

 

Lunch Break

Workshop From Diesel Generators to Renewable Energy in the Context of Crisis(UNECE, UNITAR, UNHCR, GIZ)

Session Smart Cities (UNECE, swiss-universities, C2E2)

Workshop Modernization of the energy sector – a pathway towards low-carbon energy and green economy (UNECE)

Workshop Tracking Progress on Energy for Sustainable Development: Data and Indicators (ECA, ECLAC, ESCAP,ESCWA,UNECE)

SPECA Workshop 21th Session of the Thematic Working Group on Water, Energy and Environment (UNECE, ESCAP; UNDP)

 

Session Realising Renewable Energy Targets and Commitments Through Policies (IRENA)

Session Smart Cities (UNECE, swiss-universities, C2E2)

Session Social Responsibilities of Energy Corporations (Kazakhstan)

Workshop Tracking Progress on Energy for Sustainable Development: Data and Indicators (cont.)

SPECA Workshop 21th Session of the Thematic Working Group on Water, Energy and Environment (UNECE, ESCAP; UNDP)

 

Plenary: Messages from the Sessions / Key discussion points

Wrap-Up / Closing Session