Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy signs MOUs with Kazakhstan's atomic energy agency on sidelines of Korea-Central Asia summit

Minister of Climate, Environment and Energy Kim Sung-hwan and Durdy Dzhenjiyev, chairman of Turkmenistan's Water Resources Committee, pose for a photo after exchanging a memorandum of understanding on water resources management cooperation at Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday, with President Lee Jae Myung and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in attendance. [Yonhap]
Minister of Climate, Environment and Energy Kim Sung-hwan and Durdy Dzhenjiyev, chairman of Turkmenistan's Water Resources Committee, pose for a photo after exchanging a memorandum of understanding on water resources management cooperation at Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday, with President Lee Jae Myung and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in attendance. [Yonhap]

South Korea is deepening cooperation with Kazakhstan — the world's largest uranium producer — in nuclear and renewable energy, while also launching AI-based water resources management collaboration with Turkmenistan.

The Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy said Tuesday it signed cooperation MOUs with the presidents of three Central Asian nations visiting Korea for the Korea-Central Asia Summit.

On the sidelines of a summit between President Lee Jae Myung and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the ministry signed an MOU with Kazakhstan's atomic energy agency.

The two sides agreed to cooperate on developing and implementing nuclear energy programs, training personnel, managing radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, and strengthening the stability and resilience of the uranium supply chain.

The ministry said it expects the partnership with Kazakhstan — which accounted for 38.6 percent of global uranium output as of 2024 — to help reinforce the nuclear fuel supply chain and bolster energy security.

The ministry also signed a separate MOU with Kazakhstan's energy ministry on transitioning to renewable and clean energy. Kazakhstan has set a carbon neutrality target of 2060 and is considered rich in renewable energy resources, including wind, hydropower and solar.

"A bridgehead has been established to build a clean energy cooperation hub in Central Asia," the ministry said.

On the sidelines of a summit between Lee and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on Tuesday, the ministry and Turkmenistan's Water Resources Committee signed an MOU on water resources management cooperation.

The agreement is expected to open greater opportunities for South Korean companies to participate in the modernization of the Karakum Canal, which runs through the Turkmen capital Ashgabat.

The ministry said it will identify cooperation projects with Turkmenistan centered on areas where South Korea holds strengths, including AI-based flood forecasting systems and a three-dimensional water management platform using digital twin technology.


oskymoon@heraldcorp.com