Baku: A joint venture has been established between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan to prepare a feasibility study for a project to lay a fiber-optic cable line along the bottom of the Caspian Sea, according to Kazakh media reports. Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov announced the collaboration, highlighting the involvement of financial institutions in supporting the initiative.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the venture has secured financing for the feasibility study, with backing from two banks, including the Asian Development Bank. The completion of the feasibility study will provide clarity on the project’s exact costs, enabling informed decision-making for the subsequent phases.

The fiber-optic cable project is part of a broader plan to enhance connectivity between Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan by linking their energy systems through an undersea cable.