On May 26, 2022, a round table was held on the information platform of JSC "Mangistau Regional Electric Grid Company" on the topic: "Cybersecurity and automation of the energy sector".

The round table was attended by the top management of MEDNC JSC, Head of Energy Projects, USAID mission in Central Asia Patrick Mayer, Senior Energy Advisor, USAID Jamilya Amodeo, Clean Energy Projects Coordinator, USAID Christen Madler and Energy Sector Specialist , USAID project "Energy of Central Asia" Egor Zbrodko.

The purpose of the round table was to discuss the prospects for cooperation on digitalization and information security in the energy sector.

Representatives of the USAID Energy of Central Asia project noted that cybersecurity is not as important in any of the industries as in the energy sector. Energy companies are the focus of attackers, as many other industries depend on these companies. Modern energy companies contribute to economic growth and supply electricity to educational facilities, social services, housing and communal services and significant enterprises. As the technological development of energy systems increases their vulnerability to cyberattacks. The consequences of attacks on power grids can be critical, so the main task is to ensure the uninterrupted operation of power facilities. It is important to emphasize that the project is supported by the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan and other central government agencies.

Zhaksylyk Sagymbekov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board for Operation of MREK JSC, said that in 2014 the Joint Stock Company began to introduce modern energy-efficient technologies, digitalization and automation of production processes.

JSC "MREK" became the first company in Kazakhstan that completely switched to an automated system for commercial electricity metering (ASKUE), which allows you to account and control electricity from the supplier to the transfer to the consumer. MREK JSC is implementing a phased introduction of Smart Grid elements. In 2016, a new facility "Regional Dispatch Center" (RDC) was put into operation, which provides operational and dispatching personnel with settlement and analytical support, thereby improving the quality and efficiency of decision-making on the management of electric networks of JSC "MREK" while preventing possible technological violations and emergency situations. Over the past 10 years, tremendous work has been done to improve reliability and safety.

At the end of the round table, the speakers decided to prepare a resolution that will reflect specific proposals and mechanisms for digitalization and information security in the energy sector.