Quarterly Performance Report: April – June 2012 for Central Asian Energy Efficiency Support Program

The program is implemented by ICF International under a cooperative agreement with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The project's primary objective is to support the Government of Kazakhstan (GoK) in implementing its energy efficiency law and promoting sustainable energy practices. The program's implementation is divided into several tasks, including assessment, stakeholder awareness and education, and regulatory support. Task 1, assessment, was completed in the first quarter of the project, but it will continue to be an ongoing aspect of the program's implementation and monitoring and evaluation approach. The CAEESP team is working closely with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Industries and New Technology (MINT), Samruk-Kazyna (S-K), Kazenergoexpertise (KEE), and the Kazakhstan Technical Regulation Committee (KTRM), to build a deeper understanding of the country's energy efficiency priorities and opportunities for leveraging additional resources. The program has made significant progress in promoting energy efficiency awareness and education among stakeholders. The CAEESP team has conducted several training workshops and seminars, including a general energy efficiency seminar, energy audit training, and ISO 50001 energy management systems training. These events have been well-received by participants, and the CAEESP team has established a solid working relationship with the corporate offices of Samruk-Kazyna Group. Regulatory support is another key aspect of the program. The CAEESP team is working closely with MINT to formalize regulations in support of the new energy efficiency law. The team is providing technical expertise to help the government side improve their expertise related to energy efficiency tasks. The CAEESP team has also established a solid working relationship with the private sector, including Samruk-Kazyna Group, and is expanding its approach within the private sector. The program's operations and administration are also being strengthened. The CAEESP project office has become fully functional, and the team has completed project legal registration in compliance with all relevant Kazakhstan laws and regulations. The team is also seeking ways to institutionalize the training programs' knowledge base and materials by exploring potential partnerships with local universities and organizations. The CAEESP team has made significant progress in promoting energy efficiency awareness and education among stakeholders, and the program is well-positioned to achieve its objectives. The team's ongoing efforts to build a deeper understanding of the country's energy efficiency priorities and opportunities for leveraging additional resources will continue to be an essential aspect of the program's implementation and monitoring and evaluation approach. The program's geographic focus is on Kazakhstan, with the aim of promoting energy efficiency practices and supporting the implementation of the country's energy efficiency law. The program's timeframes are quarterly, with the current report covering the period from April to June 2012. The program's recommendations are focused on continuing to build a deeper understanding of the country's energy efficiency priorities and opportunities for leveraging additional resources, and on promoting energy efficiency awareness and education among stakeholders. The CAEESP team is aware that some private companies have the capital to invest in energy efficiency without the need to revert to external finance. The team is expanding its approach within the private sector, with the aim of stimulating interest in ISO50001 and discussing the analytical services into energy efficiency technical and management processes that can be offered under CAEESP. The team is also making direct contacts with Samruk Energo as well as the mining and metals sector. The program's financial information is not provided in this report, but it is expected to be included in future reports. The program's plans and schedule for the next quarter are also not provided, but it is expected that the team will continue to build on the momentum of the current quarter and make further progress in promoting energy efficiency awareness and education among stakeholders.