OREANDA-NEWS. January 21, 2015. The 5th Session of the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has started working at the hotel "St.Regent" in Abu Dhabi.

The Republic of Kazakhstan, showing great interest in the development of renewable energy sources, is vice president of the current session of IRENA. Our country is represented by delegation headed by Energy Minister Vladimir Shkolnik on the representative forum.

Addressing the participants of the Assembly of the IRENA, Shkolnik said "despite the fact that Kazakhstan is an energy-sufficient country, there is a need to develop clean technologies, clean energy to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants".

"Covering our internal needs, we export oil, gas, coal and uranium. However, having a great potential of renewable energy, we have serious intentions on the growth of renewable energy today," he said.

V. Shkolnik said that the Republic of Kazakhstan has adopted the Concept of transition to "Green economy", law on support of renewable energy, fixed tariffs for renewable energy has been approved and these tariffs are in force.

"Thus, a great work on improvement of legal framework for attraction of investors in this sphere has been carried out in Kazakhstan. As is known, Kazakhstan has won the right to host the international specialized exhibition "EXPO 2017" in Astana. The theme of the exhibition "Future Energy" imposes a huge responsibility on us not only to the country but also to the international community. Therefore, we invite you to be active participants in the preparatory work for the EXPO, and later - exhibitors of the AEKSPO 2017," Vladimir Shkolnik said.

Memorandum of Understanding between the Association "KAZENERGY" and agency "IRENA" has been signed at the forum in Abu Dhabi.

The purpose of this document is to provide common framework for cooperation on the preparation of Kazakhstan for hosting EXPO 2017 on the theme "Future Energy". That is: development of promotion policy and innovative mechanisms for energy efficiency in the Republic of Kazakhstan, energy supply - planning and development forecasts, technology analysis and development of road maps. Also, the memorandum provides for conducting joint research projects and activities, sharing knowledge and experience in the energy sector and using renewable energy sources.

Traditionally interactive ministerial round tables, plenary sessions and technical panels were held during the fifth session of the Assembly of the IRENA, where members of the Kazakh delegation took part.

In addition, the Kazakh delegation participated in several discussion sessions on "Renewable Energy and the Environment", "Resource" - the gateway to knowledge about renewable energy"; as well as discussions on the theme: "Innovations: technology, business and the future of energy" in the debate "Matter of time" under the authority of the IRENA and international business newspaper "FinancialTimes" (United Kingdom).

Upon completion of the 5th Session of the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) there will be an opening of the Week of sustainable development. Several important events took place in the framework of the Week: the 8th World Future Energy Summit 2015 (WFES); 3rd International Water Summit (IWS); 2nd International Exhibition for waste management ("EcoWASTE").