The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been working with Turkmenistan since 2018 to modernize the country’s electricity infrastructure, marking a milestone in cooperation, Business Turkmenistan reported on January 12.
At the core of this partnership is the $500 million National Power Grid Development Strategy, the first initiative by an international financial institution in Turkmenistan’s energy sector. According to the ADB, the project aims to enhance the reliability of the national power network and bolster the country’s electricity export capacity.
The project has financed the construction of approximately 1,400 kilometers of power transmission lines at 110, 220, and 500 kilovolts. In addition, 11 substations have been built across the regions of Akhal, Balkan, Dashoguz, and Lebap, as well as in Ashgabat. Technical assistance valued at $1.5 million was also provided through a grant from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific.
The ADB reported that the project is already yielding measurable results. Electricity exports rose from 3.4 terawatt-hours in 2017 to 9.3 terawatt-hours in 2023, driven by increased transmission capacity and system stability. The State Electric Power Corporation Turkmenenergo, the ADB’s local partner, contributed $175 million to the project’s implementation.
The ADB described its role as supporting sustainable economic growth and development across Asia and the Pacific through the provision of loans, grants, and technical assistance.
Cooperation between the ADB and Turkmenistan has also expanded into other sectors. In September 2025, the ADB approved a $75 million loan and a $2 million grant from the Japan Fund to strengthen Turkmenistan’s nursing and midwifery workforce. The initiative marked the ADB’s first health sector project in the country.
