Page 27 – The Times Of Central Asia

19 Nov 2025

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

Kazakhstan Names First Nuclear Facility the Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant

November 19, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

Kazakhstan has officially named its first nuclear power facility the Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant, following the results of a national competition. More than 10,000 unique names were proposed by citizens across the country, with “Balqash Atom Elektr Stansiyasy” (in Kazakh) receiving the most votes.

Nationwide Contest Engages Public in Naming

The competition to name the new plant was conducted via the eGov Mobile platform and ran from September 25 to October 10. Open to citizens aged 16 and older, the contest received 27,157 entries, generating 10,460 unique name suggestions. These figures accounted for variations in Cyrillic and Latin spelling, as well as synonymous formulations.

A selection committee was established on September 5, comprising public figures, members of the creative sector, philologists, historians, and nuclear energy experts. In its final session, the committee reviewed the 100 most popular submissions.

Why “Balqash” Was Selected

The winning name, “Balqash Atom Elektr Stansiyasy,” was submitted by 882 participants, placing it at the top of the popularity ranking. The Atomic Energy Agency noted that naming nuclear power plants after their geographical location aligns with international conventions. In this case, the name references the Balkhash Lake region, where the plant is under development.

The commission also approved the following official version of the name in English: Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant.

Participants who proposed the winning name will receive electronic certificates of co-authorship via the eGov Mobile app within one month. Authorities have compiled a database of all name proposals, which may be used in future naming efforts for additional nuclear units or plants.

Despite the public engagement, some citizens on social media questioned the outcome, expressing skepticism about the need for a contest that ultimately selected a geographically obvious name.

Construction Progresses at Ulken Site

While the naming contest was underway, initial construction began at the nuclear plant’s designated site near the village of Ulken in the Almaty region. Preparatory work commenced in August, led by the Russian state corporation Rosatom as the general contractor. By the end of October, design and survey work was already in progress.

The Ulken Nuclear Power Plant is expected to play a central role in Kazakhstan’s long-term energy strategy. Discussions are also underway regarding a potential second nuclear facility in the Zhambyl District of the Almaty region, though this project remains in the evaluation phase. Experts consider the area a promising location for future development.

19 Nov 2025

Central Asia, Environment, Home, Tajikistan, Tajikistan Home, Tajikistan Environment

New FAO Report Ranks Tajikistan Among World’s Most At-Risk Countries for Land Degradation

November 19, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

Tajikistan is among the countries most vulnerable to land degradation, according to a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The findings point to alarming environmental and socio-economic risks for a country where agriculture remains the primary source of employment.

The FAO attributes Tajikistan’s vulnerability to a combination of small landholdings and intense pressure on soil resources. The country has more than 1 million rural households, including approximately 181,000 dekhkan farms. The average landholding is just 0.2 hectares, with a median size of 0.1 hectares, meaning half of all farmers operate on micro-plots.

Challenges to Sustainable Agricultural Growth

Under these conditions, expanding agricultural production is not feasible through increased acreage. Instead, growth depends on improving soil quality, upgrading irrigation systems, ensuring stable water access, and adopting modern technologies. These factors now define the boundaries of Tajikistan’s agricultural development.

According to the FAO, land degradation has affected 3.2 billion people globally, nearly 40% of the world’s population. In some regions, agricultural yields have already declined by at least 10%.

In Tajikistan, the stakes are especially high. The country has limited arable land, and its farming sector relies heavily on glacial meltwater and consistent irrigation. Climate risks are intensifying faster here than in many neighboring states.

Extent and Impact of Land Degradation

International experts estimate that nearly 70% of Tajikistan’s arable land is already degraded, with 10% of the population living in affected areas. The main drivers are erosion, salinization, and nutrient depletion, which collectively undermine soil productivity.

These environmental pressures reduce rural incomes, increase reliance on external resources such as fertilizers, and contribute to forced migration, exacerbating social and economic vulnerabilities across the country.

19 Nov 2025

Central Asia, Turkmenistan Home, Home, Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan Local Politics, Local Politics

Ashgabat Police Intensify Crackdown on Internal Migrants Ahead of Neutrality Day

November 19, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

Security forces in Turkmenistan’s capital Ashgabat have stepped up operations targeting visitors from other regions in the lead-up to the country’s 30th anniversary of neutrality. Witnesses report harsh interrogations at checkpoints, physical abuse, ethnic slurs, and widespread raids in areas where day laborers gather.

Systematic Interrogations and Raids

Recent media reports highlighting police crackdowns on non-resident workers appear to represent only a fraction of a broader campaign against internal migrants. According to residents, anyone arriving in Ashgabat now faces multi-stage inspections at all major entry points, including from the Gokdepe, Dashoguz, Mary, and Lebap regions.

Checkpoint officers question travelers in detail, asking where they are going, who they are visiting, the length of their stay, and their purpose. Those suspected of seeking work are often forced to return to their regions of origin.

Within Ashgabat, authorities continue searches at the Gurtly bus station and expand checks to markets, construction sites, and agricultural outlets, any location where day laborers might be found. The raids extend to suburban areas, including the city of Arkadag.

Ethnic Discrimination and Unofficial Policies

Longstanding unofficial policies appear to disproportionately affect ethnic Uzbeks. Residents of Dashoguz and Lebap regions report that career advancement in government is often limited for Uzbeks, with many being encouraged to change their names from childhood to improve their prospects. Even in districts where Uzbeks form the majority, leadership roles are predominantly held by ethnic Turkmen.

According to Turkmen.news, the surge in pressure on non-residents coincides with preparations for high-profile events. In the summer, similar measures were observed in the resort town of Avaza before a United Nations forum. Now, authorities appear focused on “cleaning up” Ashgabat and Arkadag ahead of Neutrality Day.

Eyewitnesses believe the government aims to present an idealized image of the capital as Turkmenistan prepares to mark 30 years of neutrality. Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov, the previous president and current Chairman of the country’s People’s Council, is reportedly placing significant emphasis on the celebrations. High-ranking international delegations are expected to attend.

Institutionalized Control Since 2022

The origins of the current policy trace back to January 2022, when Berdymuhamedov, during a Security Council meeting, directed the head of the migration service, Nazar Atagaraev, to increase controls on internal movement. Since then, raids have become routine, with enforcement intensifying ahead of state events.

19 Nov 2025

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

Metro Expansion Key to Almaty Infrastructure Plans

December 8, 2025
By Joe Luc Barnes

Next year, Almaty plans another incremental step in the development of its public transport infrastructure with the opening of a new station at Kalkaman. This should see the tentacles of the transport system shift towards the west of the city. In the future, there are also plans to extend the metro north to Alatau, where the government’s “smart city” is being developed.

Investment in public transport is welcome, particularly with vocal complaints from residents about ever-increasing traffic problems and their contribution to the city’s winter smog.

“The expansion of the metro is considered one of the key tools for improving the environmental situation in Almaty,” a spokesperson for the Almaty mayor’s office (or Akimat), told The Times of Central Asia. “Increasing the share of passenger transportation via the subway reduces the use of cars, decreases traffic congestion, lowers emissions, and contributes to improved air quality.”

The ambitious new metro project is in addition to over 600 new buses expected to be added to the Almaty Bus fleet this year.

But despite these schemes, the traffic problem shows little sign of abating. It begs the question: has the city got public transport priorities right?

New-look trolleybuses and electro-buses can be seen as part of Almaty’s modern fleet; image: TCA, Joe Luc Barnes

The rise of the automobile

“Traffic jams in Almaty began in the early 2000s, when the economic situation improved and people started buying cars,” Dauren Alimbekov, a high-profile blogger on Almaty transport, told The Times of Central Asia.

He adds that the privatisation of other forms of public transport exacerbated this problem.

The tram network was suspended in 2015 after two high-profile accidents, with the tracks being dismantled in 2017. Its disappearance coincided almost exactly with the arrival of ride-hailing services such as Yandex Go! in July 2016. By 2023, over 200,000 residents were moonlighting as Yandex Go! drivers to earn extra money.

“In recent decades, the city has been planned with cars in mind, with major thoroughfares such as Al-Farabi almost totally lacking in convenient pedestrian crossings,” said Alimbekov.

This influx of drivers has created problems. Private cars are a major contributor to air pollution in the city. On some days earlier this year, Almaty recorded the worst pollution in the world.

A lack of dedicated bus lanes slows journey times and prevents more people from using public transport; image: TCA, Joe Luc Barnes

Public transport

That is not to say that there is no public transport in the city. Indeed, the Almaty Metro is the only metro system in Central Asia to have opened since the collapse of communism. Trains began running in 2011, but they only travelled between an initial five stations. Two more opened in 2015, which saw a spike in passenger numbers. Today, there are eleven stations, although most of these remain along Abay Avenue, giving it little practical value to most residents.

The metro system does not connect to either of the city’s main train stations – Almaty-1 and Almaty-2 – nor with its major bus terminal at Sairan.

The metro stations in the center of the city are also inordinately far underground – Abay station is 78 meters deep, adding at least five minutes to journey times.

But despite these difficulties, passenger numbers have steadily grown. On September 2, the metro hit a new record ridership with 117,000 daily users, with daily averages hovering around 100,000.

While noting that some of the record-breaking ridership was due to the start of the academic year, the Akimat spokesperson believes that other factors are at play. “We have improved service quality in the metro – including reduced train intervals thanks to additional trains being put into operation. There is also a general trend of residents switching from private cars to public transport due to traffic congestion and rising costs of car ownership.”

The city also has a growing network of buses.

“If anything, there are now too many buses!” says Alimbekov. “The average age of the fleet is just 2-3 years old.”

He argues that the city’s leadership would be better off building, or expanding, dedicated bus lanes to speed up the journeys of these buses around the city. Journeys in the city cost a mere 120 tenge ($0.23), and the Onay! payment system is quick and easy to use, even for foreign visitors equipped with Apple Pay.

Controversial e-scooters have proliferated across the city; image: TCA, Joe Luc Barnes

There is a similar issue with scooters – there has been an enormous proliferation of e-scooters, which are quick, convenient, and popular, and could help serve to bring cars off the road.

However, these too are only served by a limited number of dedicated lanes, leading to many simply riding them on pedestrian sidewalks at dangerously high speeds.

E-scooter etiquette has ignited a furious debate among residents, especially as the police do not enforce legal restrictions to protect pedestrians. The problem has caused such public anger that even the president called on the police to be stricter in his State of the Union address in September.

The Metro Masterplan

Abay Station, Almaty Metro; image: TCA, Joe Luc Barnes

The Akimat plans to incrementally expand the scale of the metro. Right now, 3.1 kilometers worth of tunnels have been dug, which will take trains westward beyond the current terminus at Bauyrjan Momyshuly to a new station called Kalkaman, located where Abay Avenue meets Ashimova Street.

“Work on the station and tunnels is progressing at an accelerated pace: tunnel excavation is close to completion, and construction of the station is nearing its final stage,” said the Akimat spokesperson, adding that Kalkaman is scheduled for completion in “the first half of 2026”.

In the longer term, the extension plans are more ambitious, with new lines going towards Alatau Smart City via Mizam Market.

“A feasibility study is also being prepared for a new branch from Zhibek Zholy station to the airport,” said the Akimat spokesperson.

But Alimbekov believes that these growth plans are misguided. He says that the priority should be to develop the metro inside the city, rather than stretching it out towards the suburbs.

“The main source of traffic problems is cars owned by city residents, not people from the outskirts,” he said. “These people who arrive by metro from the suburbs in the morning, how will they travel within the city afterwards? There is no continuation of the metro network inside the city, only along Abay Avenue. This will create a huge passenger surge exiting at just two or three stations.”

He’s also sceptical as to whether any of these expansion projects can be completed on schedule. The extension to Bauyrjan Momyshuly station, originally planned for 2018, did not open until 2022.

“I don’t know why it always takes so long to build the metro here. Not once has a project been completed on time. So, my prediction is that this one, too, will be delayed.”

In the meantime, Alimbekov suggests simply making the city more pedestrian-friendly, given that metro and bus users are also pedestrians. He adds that better bike lanes would also help, with the added benefit of saving the city from problems with e-scooters. But in the main, he thinks that bus infrastructure would be the simplest and most cost-effective solution. “It doesn’t need to be anything flashy like the BRT [bus-rapid-transit] system they are proposing. For buses to run faster and on schedule instead of being stuck in traffic, they just need dedicated lanes throughout the city.”

The city is certainly willing to invest in infrastructure, but whether it will be effective or not remains to be seen.

19 Nov 2025

Draft, Home, Tajikistan Local Politics, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics, Tajikistan Features, Features, Kyrgyzstan Features

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan Brace for Winter Power Shortages

November 24, 2025
By Stephen M. Bland

As winter approaches, Kyrgyzstan is warning of potential electricity shortfalls due to critically low water levels in its hydro-reservoirs, and authorities are rolling out emergency measures. These include urging electricity conservation, shutting down all cryptocurrency mining farms to relieve grid pressure, increasing electricity imports, and accelerating repairs and upgrades to aging power-generation infrastructure.

Officials with the Ministry of Energy and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic say the reserves in key hydropower reservoirs are at their lowest level in more than a decade. At the same time, demand for electricity in homes and businesses is forecast to increase significantly this winter because of colder temperatures. The gap between supply and demand has forced the government to ask households to reduce electricity use during peak hours.

Historically, Kyrgyzstan has relied heavily on hydropower. The country’s flagship facility, the Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Station, supplies roughly 40% of the nation’s electricity. But its reservoirs are fed primarily by spring and summer snowmelt. In recent years, melting snow has arrived earlier and run-off has fallen, shrinking water levels. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Kyrgyzstan’s hydroelectric system faces serious seasonal variability in its generational capacity.

This winter’s challenge is compounded by weak output from thermal plants and delayed maintenance. The government reports that the ageing coal-fired and gas-fired plants in the north and south of the country require urgent repairs, with rehabilitating the plant in Bishkek alone set to cost around $150 million. With limited funds, several units will remain offline during the cold months.

The immediate consequences for households are already appearing. Residents in Bishkek and surrounding regions have reported recurrent evening outages sometimes lasting a few hours. Landlord-run apartment blocks plan to brief residents about schedules for rotating cuts. In smaller towns and villages, citizens fear longer blackouts if the cold deepens.

Businesses are also feeling the shock. Small-scale manufacturers report that they have had to halt production during scheduled cuts, eroding profits and increasing costs. Schools and hospitals say they are depending on standby generators.

Energy stability plays a central role in Kyrgyzstan’s economy and social well-being. Without reliable power, business productivity falls, heating systems malfunction, and social discontent can spike. In recent years, protests over energy prices and outages have forced the government to scramble for solutions. The current measures are aimed not only at keeping the lights on but maintaining public confidence ahead of looming parliamentary elections.

Regionally, Kyrgyzstan’s electricity system interacts with its neighbors. The country imports power from Kazakhstan and exchanges electricity with Uzbekistan, with cross-border feeds from Kazakhstan helping to cover shortages. This winter, Kazakhstan’s own constraints may limit exports, leaving Kyrgyzstan more exposed. Meanwhile, China has offered investment in hydropower expansion as part of regional cooperation. That deal may eventually increase supply, but it will not help in the short term.

Meanwhile, neighboring Tajikistan is grappling with comparable winter electricity pressures. The country sources about 95% of its electricity from hydropower and enters the cold season with low reservoir and river flows that sharply reduce generation capacity. While major refurbishment of the Nurek Dam’s turbines is underway to boost capacity and reliability for the winter months, many rural areas already face scheduled power cuts from late September through April.

The reservoir connected to Tajikistan’s Nurek power plant has dropped by 2.47 metres over the last year, with the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources characterizing the situation as “alarming”. As early as September, electricity in rural areas has often been restricted to eight to ten hours a day. Tajikistan exports power in the summer, but curtails those exports in winter when its domestic supply is under strain.

The shared predicament underscores how central Asia’s hydropower-dependent countries are vulnerable to seasonal and climate-linked water variations, reinforcing the importance of regional cooperation in energy trade, reservoir management, and infrastructure investment.

In Bishkek, the government’s new winter plan includes measures such as temporary power limits during peak hours, increased hydropower output when possible, and incentives for households to reduce consumption between 6 pm and 10 pm. Officials hope that by managing demand and stretching supply, the country avoids lengthy blackouts. They also plan to accelerate repairs and fast-track small solar-generator installations in villages.

But risks remain. If unusually cold days arrive or snowmelt falls short, reservoirs could drop further, forcing longer outages than expected. Weather data suggest that this winter may bring colder-than-average nights in parts of Central Asia. Moreover, Kyrgyzstan’s ability to fund urgent repairs and imports depends on its foreign-exchange reserves, which remain volatile due to loans and fluctuating metal-export revenues.

On the eve of significant elections, Kyrgyzstan enters the winter season under pressure. The country’s heavy reliance on hydropower, ageing thermal infrastructure, and external dependencies mean the authorities have few easy options. The new emergency plan may hold for now, but any unexpected failure in supply or spike in demand could test social patience and economic resilience. For households, businesses, and public services alike, the cold months ahead may bring more than just a chill in the air.

18 Nov 2025

Central Asia, Home, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Home, Uzbekistan International Affairs

NYC Mayor Adams Heads to Uzbekistan in Final Weeks in Office

November 18, 2025
By Times of Central Asia

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who suspended his re-election campaign this year and leaves office on January 1, is traveling to Uzbekistan and will return to New York on Sunday.

The New York Post and other media outlets said Adams, who met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on Monday, will visit Tashkent and Samarkand during the taxpayer-funded trip. The mayor’s office said late Monday that Adams will meet “government, business, tech, sports, and religious leaders to discuss how New York City can partner with Uzbekistan” to generate jobs and innovation in the city and will also visit “religious sites of importance to the Muslim community,” according to media reports.

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will succeed Adams, a former New York City police officer and Brooklyn borough president. As mayor, Adams has been credited with some accomplishments on housing, steering New York out of the pandemic and other issues, but his tenure was tarnished by ethics concerns and investigations.

Last year, federal prosecutors charged Adams with conspiracy, fraud and other crimes for an alleged scheme involving Turkish officials. Adams pleaded not guilty. This year, the U.S. Department of Justice ordered that the case be dropped.

The federal investigation of Adams included an angle involving Uzbekistan. In a 2024 affidavit, investigators alleged that Adams solicited illegal foreign donations, via a so-called “straw” donor scheme designed to conceal the identity of the real contributor of the funds. It said that one such donor “is connected to the Government of Uzbekistan and works to influence Adams on behalf of Uzbek and Central Asian causes.”

Uzbekistan’s government has not commented publicly on the case.

Hosting an Uzbekistan heritage reception last month, Adams said “New York is the Tashkent of America,” a reference to the large Uzbek community in the city.

“I love all of my stans, Kazakhstan and the others, but Uzbekistan is growing, your country is becoming stronger and stronger every day,” Adams said.