On April 11-12, the International Youth Scientific and Practical Conference “Energy Horizon 2024: Decarbonization, Green Energy, Alternative Energy, the Future of Oil and Natural Gas” was held within the walls of the Kazakh-British Technical University. The event was organized by the Kazakh-British Technical University. The conference, dedicated to Science Day and the 125th anniversary of Satpayev Kanysh Imantayevich, is intended to become a platform for discussion among young scientists about issues related to decarbonization, green energy and prospects for the development of oil and natural gas.
As the rector of the Kazakh-British Technical University Maratbek Gabdullin said, this is the first conference after the creation of a university hub in 2023. The university hub, which trains specialists for the energy industry, was created on the initiative of KBTU during the World Petroleum Council forum in Calgary:
“KBTU is the first university to be a member of the National Council and today strives to unite universities from different parts of the world in the energy sector. It is planned that the presented hub will include universities from the USA, Canada, France, Romania, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Tatarstan, and China. A decision was made to hold summer schools on the basis of one of the universities to unite young specialists and integrate them with company representatives. Also, our university, together with Caspian Neft JSC, is planning in the near future to open a production simulator at the Alatau SEZ PIT, where we will have five superchargers, four production pumps, fully digitalized, which will be controlled from the KBTU building”.
The main goals and objectives of the event were: creating a space for active dialogue and exchange of scientific research, supporting the scientific and intellectual growth of young professionals and establishing connections between researchers and industry professionals.
Shahzod Umarov, head of the department of the Navoi branch of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, noted that “the conference is intended to become a platform for discussing topical issues related to the prospects for the development of oil and natural gas”. Shahzod Umarov, together with representatives of the Ministry of Geology of Uzbekistan, told the meeting participants about the development of the oil and gas industry within the country and mentioned the importance of developing cooperation between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on the prospects for the oil, gas and energy industries on behalf of the heads of countries.
Yerlan Iskakov, Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Kazan, expressed hope for a thriving partnership between Tatarstan and Kazakhstan in matters of scientific research:
“Decarbonization is one of the main challenges facing the global economy, which is determined to overcome by accelerating the energy transition...The Eurasian Economic Union is also contributing to international efforts to combat climate change. All countries of the Eurasian five are parties to the Paris climate agreement, accepting the corresponding obligations. In the countries of the former Soviet Union, green energy already occupies a significant market share. The implementation of the EEC green agenda is closely integrated with the UN sustainable development goals. Today’s conference allows us to resolve cooperation between scientific institutes of Kazakhstan and Tatarstan within the framework of Kazakh-Russian relations”.
From the Academy of Science of Tatarstan Rifkat Minnikhanov spoke, talking about achievements in environmental innovations and research in the country's energy industry. In the Republic of Tatarstan, most vehicles and specialized equipment - Kamaz trucks - have been converted to clean fuel. The country is aimed at increasing wind power plants and is actively pursuing a strategy to reduce environmental emissions.
Since the International Youth Scientific and Practical Conference 2024 is timed to coincide with the 125th anniversary of the Soviet geologist Satpayev Kanysh, the enormous contribution to science of the first president of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR was mentioned at the opening. The great-grandson of Satpayev, as well as the teacher at the Kazakh-British Technical University Andrei Tretyakov , spoke to the conference participants with words of admiration for the people of science , noting that “a scientist is a sacrificial person, and an example of this is Kanysh Satpayev, who devoted himself entirely to science, the struggle for study and research, forgetting about his own desires”.
The movie about Kanysh Satpayev, directed by Berik Barysbekov, was presented. The creator of the movie said that the film is aimed at young people, as it tells about the first 40 years of life of the famous scientist, his childhood, formation, upbringing and the people who influenced his development.
The following significant topics were discussed at the International Youth Scientific and Practical Conference on April 11-12:
● Drilling wells in difficult conditions
● Green or alternative energy
● Current methods for developing oil and gas fields at the present stage
● Promising ways to develop the transport system in the oil and gas industry
● Geological and geophysical methods for searching for new deposits
● Digital Science: Breaking Barriers with Technology
● Economic aspects of using renewable energy sources
The results of the conference will be published in an electronic collection and posted on the KBTU website. The best works will be recommended for publication in the KBTU Herald.
On the second day, a master class was held from industry representatives: TCO, Lukoil, Schlumberger, SLB, Rosen, as well as an intellectual game on oil and gas topics. At the end of the conference, the winners of student works in each section and the winners of the Intellectual Game were awarded. The conference resolution was adopted.
