The rail transport remains and will in the foreseeable future remain the main mode of transport in Kazakhstan. Its importance is enhanced by the growing transit rail traffic between China and the European Union as well as between the Central Asian countries and Russia, by the fact that Kazakhstan is a landlocked country and by an active development of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. This is why it is so important to consider the problems of and prospects for the development of railway infrastructure in the country. The study is based on the relevant literature review and interviews with representatives of major market players and academia. The interviewees identified and discussed the major problems, recommended their solutions, and suggested ways forward. It is proposed to organize a thorough discussion of these solutions and to implement the approved ones. In general, the topic of this article is of serious importance for the country because the full utilization of its transport and transit potential will support the overall national development.

The situation with crude oil shipments from Kazakhstan to the European Union has seriously deteriorated since 24 February 2022 when Russia started its invasion of Ukraine. A series of different incidents, which complicated these deliveries, started soon after the beginning of the invasion and this has again brought to light the need to diversify the export routes for the Kazakh crude oil. In spite of numerous previous appeals, the dependence on the transit via the Russian territory only increased over the last years. This paper analyses the reasons for this increased dependence, considers the alternative routes and their attending circumstances and attempts to suggest potential ways out of this situation. Considering this topic, it is essential to mention that Kazakhstan is among the five top suppliers of crude oil to the European Union, and, at the same time, the European Union is the biggest importer of Kazakh crude oil.

This article is a study of the current situation with rail deliveries of bulk oil cargoes from the Caspian region to Europe. It addresses the importance of these deliveries for the European energy security, the salient features of rail transportation of crude oil and refined products in this direction, the main transportation routes, and, finally, describes existing and potential problems with rail deliveries of bulk oil cargoes from the Caspian region to Europe and suggests potential resolutions for these problems. In spite of the serious importance of the topic, the overall number of scientific publications related to it is limited. Another problem is that existing scientific literature sources tend to cover general transportation or geopolitical aspects without paying due attention to the mil transportation, logistical problems, related to the current topic, and how to resolve them. The author attempts to fill these knowledge gaps by collecting, processing, and analysing first-hand information from the main market players. The author concludes the article emphasising the importance of the railway transport for deliveries of bulk oil cargoes and pointing out that several important actions are required. namely the actual introduction of a competitive freight market and transition from transport to logistics corridors, support from governments and railway administrations and proactive position of shippers.

This study aims to investigate the barriers hindering the transition to renewable energy sources (RES) in Kazakhstan, a developing oil-exporting country facing rising energy demand, environmental degradation, and increasing pressure to meet international climate commitments. The research combines a review of relevant literature with insights drawn from 20 structured expert interviews, applying the analytical framework developed by J. P. Painuly. The research then provides a comprehensive analysis of the barriers to RES adoption in Kazakhstan and their implications for policy and investment. This analysis is structured around seven key barrier categories: (1) market failures and imperfections; (2) market distortions; (3) economic and financial; (4) institutional; (5) technical; (6) social, cultural, and environmental and (7) other barriers. The findings indicate that while Kazakhstan possesses significant renewable energy potential, its realization is obstructed by several challenges, which include among others high risks associated with renewable energy projects, the lack of competitiveness of renewables due to government subsidies for conventional energy, barriers faced by small producers and prosumers, the need for regulatory improvements and increasing public awareness. Despite some positive policy developments, such as revised power purchase agreements, substantial reforms are still needed to improve market access, mitigate investment risks, and enhance institutional capacity. This paper contributes to the broader discourse on energy transitions in oil-dependent economies and offers policy-relevant insights to support the country’s shift toward a sustainable and diversified energy future.

This study has attempted to determine the most critical parameters impacting the competitiveness of oil-exporting developing and emerging countries. If such parameters are identified, then their im...