Page 100 – The Times Of Central Asia

16 Jan 2026

Life & Culture, Home, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

Kazakhstan’s Yenlik Brings Her Sound to COLORS

January 16, 2026
By Tamila Olzhbaekova

Kazakhstani singer and songwriter Yenlik has made history by becoming the first artist from Kazakhstan to be featured on the international music platform COLORSxSTUDIOS.

Founded in Berlin in 2016, COLORSxSTUDIOS, commonly known as COLORS, has grown from a small creative experiment into one of YouTube’s most influential music platforms. Recognized for its minimalist visual style, each performance is filmed against a single-color backdrop without set design or special effects, placing the focus squarely on the music, the voice, and the artist. The channel now counts more than 8.2 million subscribers and over 3.5 billion views, cementing its status as a global tastemaker in contemporary music.

Over the years, COLORS has showcased a wide range of talent, from emerging artists to international stars such as Billie Eilish, Drake, Doja Cat, and Joji. The platform describes its mission as an effort to “connect people, countries, and cultures on a creative and emotional level,” framing its global, genre-spanning approach as a form of cultural exchange as much as a musical one.

Yenlik’s Voice: Rooted in Culture, Reaching Beyond Borders

Yenlik, born Enlik Kurarbek, is one of the most prominent figures in Kazakhstan’s emerging musical wave. Her sound blends alternative pop with modern R&B influences, creating a style that feels both personal and closely tied to her cultural identity. The Kazakh language plays a central role in her work, not as a folkloric reference but as a contemporary form of expression. Her music reflects a broader shift in which Kazakh is increasingly present in global pop contexts without being confined to traditional or ethnic frameworks.

Yenlik’s authorial sound, shaped by contemporary production and subtle national influences, is paired with an emotionally restrained vocal delivery that has become her signature. Observers suggest it was this originality that drew the attention of the COLORS curators. Known for prioritizing authenticity over commercial success, the platform seeks artists with strong individuality and a distinctive voice, qualities that align closely with Yenlik’s creative vision.

From Rejection to Recognition

For Yenlik, the invitation from COLORS marked a long-awaited milestone. She had previously applied to the project without receiving a response, making the eventual outreach from the platform all the more meaningful.

“When the invitation came, I was overjoyed and burst into tears,” she recalled. “This project always felt so distant. Two years ago, we submitted an application with no response. And now, COLORS reached out to us first.”

The performance was filmed outside Kazakhstan and completed within a few hours. Yenlik was struck by the production’s simplicity, defined by an absence of elaborate sets and large crews, and by the quiet intimacy that has become a hallmark of COLORS. The team fostered a welcoming atmosphere, and she was even able to choose the episode’s background color, which she described as symbolizing “true gentle strength,” a visual reflection of the emotional tone of her performance.

Rising Digital Momentum

Yenlik’s digital presence has continued to grow steadily, with her music gaining traction among younger audiences on social media. Her songs often circulate widely online, helping to expand her reach beyond Kazakhstan.

In the fall of 2025, she released BIPL, an 11-track album that marked a turning point in her artistic development. The project introduced a more mature and cohesive sound, earning an enthusiastic response and spreading quickly across streaming platforms.

Two tracks drew particular attention. Meili amassed nearly five million views on YouTube, while 16 Qyz surpassed 2.5 million views and gained additional momentum through short-form video content.

More Than a Milestone

Yenlik’s appearance on COLORS represents more than a personal milestone. It marks a significant moment for Kazakhstani music, as an artist from Central Asia steps onto one of the world’s most influential music platforms without reshaping or softening her cultural identity.

Her success, rooted in authenticity and artistic clarity, carries a broader message: local culture can engage global audiences without compromise. By staying true to her language and creative vision, Yenlik demonstrates that music grounded in national context can resonate far beyond its place of origin, and that international recognition does not require abandoning one’s roots.

15 Jan 2026

Central Asia, Home, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Home

Kazakhstan Deploys AI to Tackle Shadow Economy

January 15, 2026
By Dmitry Pokidaev

Kazakhstan is entering a new phase of fiscal digitalization, leveraging artificial intelligence to identify and analyze illicit schemes in the shadow economy. Building on the existing Smart Data Finance platform, a system for storing and processing big data, a new digital solution will be developed to integrate information systems across government agencies.

Deputy Minister of Finance Yerzhan Birzhanov announced the initiative, stating that Smart Data Finance, which has been in use for over a year, has already proven effective in detecting tax violations. The system aggregates data from external sources and implements a “Taxpayer Dossier,” enabling the creation of digital profiles for legal entities and individual entrepreneurs.

The forthcoming upgrade will enhance Smart Data Finance’s capabilities by allowing it to cross-reference data from tax, customs, labor, and industry systems. This integration will help identify vulnerable sectors prone to “gray” economic practices and track the flow of illicit activity across industries.

Simultaneously, the government has decided to replace separate sectoral roadmaps with a unified Comprehensive Plan to Combat the Shadow Economy. This plan, too, will be monitored using AI-powered tools.

According to the Cabinet, substantial progress has already been made in digitizing high-risk sectors such as trade, construction, transport, healthcare, education, and agriculture.

Special attention is being given to the trade sector, which remains one of the most susceptible to shadow operations. The ongoing implementation of several tools, including the National Catalogue of Goods, a domestic producer registry, labeling and traceability systems, electronic invoicing, digital VAT, and the digital tenge, is intended to reduce opportunities for illegal transactions.

As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakh authorities have steadily escalated pressure on the shadow sector in recent years. Measures range from tightening controls on smartphone imports to negotiating with employers to curb the practice of paying salaries “in envelopes.”

15 Jan 2026

Central Asia, Home, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees, Kazakhstan Home

Speed vs. Stability: How Kazakhstan Is Leading Eurasia’s Transit Race

January 15, 2026
By Times of Central Asia

China’s successful test of a maglev platform weighing about one ton, accelerating to 700 kilometers per hour in just two seconds, once again underscored Beijing’s technological ambitions in the transport sector. With more than 50,000 kilometers of high-speed rail connecting cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Chengdu, China is paving the way for the next generation of mobility.

Yet beyond China’s borders, speed alone is no longer the decisive factor. In Eurasia and particularly in Central Asia, stability, predictability, and reliability have become the primary metrics for transit success. Within this context, Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a central hub in Eurasia’s evolving logistics landscape.

China’s High-Speed Model vs. Eurasia’s Freight Realities

Inside China, Fuxing high-speed trains and maglev routes have transformed domestic connectivity, forming the backbone of national economic integration. However, exporting this model faces inherent limitations. High-speed passenger lines require dedicated tracks, strict safety protocols, and massive investment factors incompatible with most of Eurasia’s existing freight-centric rail infrastructure.

As a result, the China-Central Asia-Europe corridor is focused on accelerated freight movement. The goal is not maximum speed, but consistent delivery times, reliable scheduling, and minimal disruption, elements vital to modern supply chains.

Kazakhstan’s Strategic Role in Eurasian Land Transit

Kazakhstan serves as a critical artery for China’s westward land transit. Key corridors to the Eurasian Economic Union, Europe, and Central Asia, including the Middle Corridor, traverse Kazakh territory.

In the first ten months of 2025, Kazakhstan’s State Revenue Committee reported that more than 11 million tons of goods were transited from China through Kazakhstan, marking double-digit growth year-on-year. This success stems not only from increased volume but from qualitative improvements in transit management.

Digitalization has been pivotal. An automated system for filing and issuing transit declarations has slashed processing times from several hours to just 30 minutes per container train, facilitating the clearance of millions of tons of cargo. For businesses, this translates into lower costs and more reliable delivery schedules — an essential factor amid ongoing global economic uncertainty.

These institutional upgrades are reinforced by infrastructure investment. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport, cargo transportation volumes have reached record levels, with steady growth in transit flows. Projects like the Dostyk-Moyinty line and the Almaty bypass are specifically designed to expand transit capacity.

Why High-Speed Passenger Rail Isn’t on the Agenda

Given China’s high-speed rail successes, some may question why similar routes are not planned between China and Kazakhstan. However, in the near term, such initiatives remain economically and logistically unfeasible.

Existing rail lines in the region prioritize freight and mixed-use traffic, falling short of the standards required for high-speed passenger transport. Building separate lines would demand significant capital and a stable passenger base, conditions that currently do not exist. Freight transit, aligned with the Belt and Road Initiative, remains the primary focus.

Unlocking the Caspian Bottleneck

Despite the growth in rail transit, the Caspian Sea route remains a capacity bottleneck. Plans to build a new seaport in the Karakiyansky district of Mangistau region, through a partnership with China’s Zhongyong International, aim to address this constraint.

The project envisions phased implementation, joint operation, and eventual transfer of management to Kazakhstan. The port’s integrated rail infrastructure and automated container terminal are expected to ease pressure on the overloaded ports of Aktau and Kuryk. Rising container traffic across the Caspian Sea underlines the urgency of this development.

National Strategy Anchored in Connectivity

Transforming Kazakhstan into a Eurasian transport and logistics hub is now official state policy. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has identified this goal as a national priority, calling for not only the construction of roads and ports, but also the development of a full-scale logistics ecosystem, including digital services, logistics centers, and modern border infrastructure.

While China is redefining the limits of speed, Kazakhstan is proving the value of efficiency. In the Eurasian transit race, victory does not belong to the fastest, but to the most reliable. Through digitalization, institutional reform, and targeted infrastructure development, Kazakhstan is consolidating its role as a central transport hub for Eurasia, without maglev trains, but with sustainable economic dividends.

15 Jan 2026

Central Asia, Home, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees, Kazakhstan Home

Kazakhstan Aims to Eliminate Energy Deficit and Begin Electricity Exports by 2027

January 15, 2026
By Dmitry Pokidaev

Kazakhstan is on track to eliminate its domestic electricity deficit within the next year and transition from import reliance to surplus. According to projections by the Ministry of Energy, the country will fully meet internal demand by the end of the first quarter of 2027, and by 2029, it expects to maintain a stable surplus in both electricity and regulating capacity, laying the groundwork for future exports.

Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov announced the plan during a meeting on the development of the electric power industry.

At the close of 2025, Kazakhstan’s electricity generation totaled 123.1 billion kWh, while consumption reached 124.6 billion kWh, resulting in a deficit of over 1 billion kWh. However, this shortfall was less than half the 2 billion kWh gap recorded at the end of 2024, which was offset by imports from Russia, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Installed generation capacity increased over the year from 25.3 to 26.7 GW. While coal-fired power plants continue to dominate, accounting for 51.4% of output, the shares of gas (25.6%) and renewable energy (13.5%) are steadily growing.

The Energy Ministry credits market liberalization for helping stabilize the power system. Over the past two years, nearly $1.8 billion in investment, mainly for capital repairs and modernization, has flowed into the sector. As a result, the number of technological violations has dropped by 27%, and nine combined heat and power (CHP) plants have exited the so-called “red zone.”

Akkenzhenov noted that generating companies’ owners did not receive dividends, with all profits reinvested into asset renewal. This marks a strategic pivot from short-term profitability to long-term system reliability.

Looking ahead to 2035, Kazakhstan plans to add over 26 GW in new generating capacity, including nuclear power. Simultaneously, the government is prioritizing upgrades to existing coal-fired plants using clean coal technologies.

Key infrastructure projects include the 2,640 MW Ekibastuz GRES-3 station, a new 700 MW facility in Kurchatov, and CHP plants in Kokshetau, Semey, and Ust-Kamenogorsk. Contractors have been selected, and implementation is already underway.

Despite this progress, systemic risks remain. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has strongly criticized delays in the execution of energy projects.

Nuclear power development has emerged as a distinct strategic priority. Kazakhstan plans to construct at least three nuclear power plants. Work on the first began last summer in partnership with Russia’s Rosatom, while two more are expected to be built with the involvement of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has described the development of nuclear energy as correcting a “historical absurdity.” Kazakhstan, one of the world’s leading uranium producers and exporters, has yet to use this resource to support its own energy needs.

15 Jan 2026

Central Asia, Home, Tajikistan Business Economy, Tajikistan, Business & Economy, Tajikistan Home

Tajikistan Accelerates Transition to Green Energy

January 15, 2026
By Vagit Ismailov

Tajikistan has launched its largest solar energy initiative to date, marking a significant step in its transition to green energy. The project entails the construction of two photovoltaic power stations with a combined capacity of 500 MW, an unprecedented scale for the country’s energy sector.

An investment agreement formalizing the project was signed on 13 January 2026 between the government of Tajikistan and Ayon Energy.

The project will involve the development of two equally sized solar power plants:

250 MW in Asht District
250 MW in Jaihun District

These new facilities are expected to play a crucial role in mitigating seasonal electricity shortages. Tajikistan, which relies heavily on hydropower, frequently faces deficits during the winter months. The introduction of solar generation capacity will ease pressure on existing hydroelectric resources, improving the reliability of electricity supply for both households and businesses.

Ayon Energy has committed to completing the design, construction, and commissioning of the plants within 2026. The total investment is estimated at $250 million.

In addition to this approved project, Tajikistan is also evaluating a potential 400 MW solar power plant in partnership with the UAE’s state-owned company Masdar.

15 Jan 2026

Central Asia, Home, Kyrgyzstan, Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Home

Kyrgyzstan’s Power Consumption Rises Amid Declining Water Levels at Toktogul Reservoir

January 15, 2026
By Sergey Kwan

Electricity consumption in Kyrgyzstan continues to rise. In 2025, the country consumed 19.3 billion kWh, an increase of 900 million kWh compared to the previous year. Of this total, 15.4 billion kWh was generated domestically, while 3.9 billion kWh was imported from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia, officials reported at a government meeting on 14 January.

Authorities also highlighted critically low water levels at the Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Plant, the country’s largest energy facility, which generates approximately 40% of its electricity. The Toktogul reservoir currently holds 9.102 billion cubic meters of water, a drop of 1.631 billion cubic meters compared to the same date in 2024.

The reservoir is approaching the critical or “dead” level of 5.5 billion cubic meters, below which the plant would be unable to generate electricity. Officials at the meeting warned that continued low inflows could force a reduction in power generation and stressed the importance of adhering strictly to electricity consumption limits.

Kyrgyzstan has long struggled with seasonal electricity shortages, particularly in winter, when many households rely on electric heating. Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibraev previously cautioned that the 2025–2026 winter season could be one of the most difficult in recent years due to the water shortfall at Toktogul.

To address the electricity deficit, Kyrgyzstan is pressing ahead with both the construction of new hydropower projects and the modernization of existing facilities.

In November 2025, the country completed a full modernization of Toktogul, located on the Naryn River. The upgrade increased the plant’s capacity from 1,200 MW to 1,440 MW.

Kyrgyzstan is also moving forward with the construction of the Kambarata-1 hydropower plant, a strategic regional project being developed in partnership with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Once completed, Kambarata-1 is expected to have a capacity of 1,860 MW and produce 5.6 billion kWh annually.