Electricity supply - The Times Of Central Asia

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Power Shortage

Kyrgyz Energy Minister Warns of Imminent Winter Power Shortages

Kyrgyzstan’s Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibraev has warned that the upcoming winter will be one of the most difficult in recent memory, with the country facing significant electricity shortages due to critically low water levels at the Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) reservoir. Toktogul is Kyrgyzstan’s largest energy facility, generating approximately 40% of the country’s electricity. According to Ibraev, the Toktogul reservoir currently holds 10.8 billion cubic meters of water, 1.6 billion cubic meters less than in 2024, when levels were already deemed critically low at 12.4 billion cubic meters. The “dead water level,” at which the turbines can no longer operate, is 6.5 billion cubic meters. Kyrgyzstan has struggled with persistent electricity deficits in recent years, particularly during winter when demand spikes as households depend heavily on electricity for heating. In 2024, national consumption reached 18.3 billion kilowatt-hours, an increase of 1.1 billion kWh over 2023. To cover the shortfall, Kyrgyzstan imported 3.6 billion kWh from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia. Ibraev urged citizens to conserve electricity and stressed that Kyrgyzstan aims to overcome its energy crisis by 2028. A key pillar of this strategy is the construction of the Kambarata-1 HPP, which is set to become the largest hydroelectric facility in Central Asia. With a planned capacity of 1,860 megawatts and an average annual generation of 5.6 billion kWh, the project is expected to significantly enhance long-term energy security. In the short term, Kyrgyzstan is banking on regional cooperation. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan have all signed an agreement on coordinated water and energy management. Under the agreement, Kyrgyzstan will release water from Toktogul for irrigation needs in downstream Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, while receiving electricity supplies from both countries through spring 2026. The Toktogul HPP serves a dual purpose: generating electricity for domestic use and regulating water flows for agriculture in neighboring states. In winter, higher hydropower output to meet heating demand often lowers reservoir levels, threatening irrigation supplies in spring. The trilateral agreement is intended to reduce this risk by enabling Kyrgyzstan to conserve water while ensuring essential electricity imports during peak consumption periods.

Electricity

Uzbekistan to Supply Electricity to Kazakhstan and Afghanistan in 2026

Uzbekistan will supply 900 million kilowatt-hours of electricity to Kazakhstan between March and December 2026, according to a statement by the Kazakh Ministry of Energy. The agreement was formalized on September 7 in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, during a trilateral meeting of energy and water authorities from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. The meeting produced several protocols aimed at stabilizing the region’s water and energy balance. A key component includes coordinated water releases from Kyrgyzstan’s Toktogul Reservoir in exchange for electricity supplied by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to Kyrgyzstan. The parties also finalized transit arrangements for Russian electricity flowing to Kyrgyzstan via Kazakhstan’s grid. These measures are designed to ensure adequate irrigation for southern Kazakhstan during the next growing season and to maintain critical water levels in the reservoir. Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov emphasized that the protocols include “specific figures, timelines, and prices,” underscoring that strict compliance with the agreed schedule is essential to maintaining stability in both electricity supply and water resource management. The electricity deal with Uzbekistan is expected to help offset power shortages in Kazakhstan’s southern grid during planned maintenance work at domestic power stations. Uzbekistan Supports Afghanistan’s Energy Sector In parallel, Uzbekistan has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Afghanistan’s efforts to modernize its electricity infrastructure. The Uzbek Ministry of Energy reported that a high-level investment conference was recently held in Kabul, drawing officials from Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan, along with representatives from international organizations and diplomatic missions. As part of the conference, a financial agreement was signed for the construction of new power transmission lines and substations with capacities ranging from 220 to 500 kilovolts. The project is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2027. Uzbekistan also pledged to assist Afghanistan in modernizing its power distribution networks, implementing smart metering technologies, and providing technical expertise to improve energy delivery and reliability.

Electricity

Afghanistan Generates 250 MW of Electricity, Imports 800 MW from Central Asia and Iran

Afghanistan’s state-owned electricity company, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), has signed or prepared agreements for domestic power generation projects totaling 1,070 megawatts over the past 11 months, with 70% of the funding coming from foreign investors, TOLOnews reported. Speaking in an interview, DABS chief Abdulbari Omar said the initiative marks a significant step toward energy self-sufficiency after years of underinvestment in the sector. “In the past 11 months, we have invested 69 billion Afghanis ($1.01 billion), 70% of which came from abroad. This shows we have encouraged foreign investors to enter the Afghan market,” he said. Afghanistan currently produces about 250 MW of electricity domestically and imports around 800 MW from Turkmenistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, at an annual cost of $250-280 million. Omar said the country would need between 6,000 and 7,000 MW to meet domestic demand, rising to 10,000 MW if industrial activity expands. He acknowledged the challenges of developing power from wind, water, gas, coal, and waste, but stressed that projects are moving forward with domestic funds and private investment, without relying on the World Bank or other international organizations. Omar also highlighted the problem of unpaid bills, citing 450 million Afghanis ($6.48 million) owed by former political leaders and warlords. “All individuals, from ministers to ordinary citizens, are treated equally under the law,” he said, noting that power has been cut to ministers who failed to pay. Last year, The Times of Central Asia reported that DABS extended its electricity import agreement with Uzbekistan until the end of 2025. The deal, signed in Uzbekistan by Omar and the National Electricity Company of Uzbekistan, remains vital for meeting Afghanistan’s needs. According to the Taliban-controlled Ministry of Energy and Water, Afghanistan requires around 1,500 MW of electricity, with roughly 720 MW imported and the rest generated domestically.

Electricity supply

Kazakhstan Has a Deal for Tajik Electricity, Now the Wait Begins

In the latest sign of Central Asian regional cooperation, Kazakhstan has signed a long-term deal to import electricity from Tajikistan. However, that electricity might not reach Kazakhstan anytime soon, as there are some important details that need to be worked out by Tajikistan before supplies can begin. Kazakhstan’s energy problems Kazakhstan has been experiencing severe energy deficits for several years now, particularly during winter months. Kazakh Senator Suyindik Aldashev said in late February this year that Kazakhstan would be short some 5.7 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity in 2025, which would be a 46% increase in the country’s electricity deficit compared to 2024. Kazakhstan was forced to import electricity from Russia during the winter of 2024 to help alleviate energy shortages. These shortages contributed to Kazakhstan's decision to hold a referendum to approve the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant (NPP). To date, however, there has been no announcement of which company will build the NPP, so additional electricity from that source could be a decade or more away. This has led Kazakhstan to explore importing energy resources from its Central Asian neighbors. The head of Turkmenistan’s Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council) Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov just visited Kazakhstan and met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev with Turkmen gas exports to its northern neighbor high on the agenda. Kazakhstan has been in discussions with Tajikistan about electricity shipments for months, and the agreement was finalized toward the end of April. Rogun The source of the electricity Tajikistan intends to export to Kazakhstan is the Rogun Hydropower Plant (HPP) on the Vakhsh River, some 110 kilometers east of the Tajik capital Dushanbe. The Rogun HPP has a history of controversy. It was conceived in the 1960s when Tajikistan was a Soviet Republic. Construction on the project started in 1976, but not much had been done by the time the USSR collapsed in late 1991, and work ground to halt shortly thereafter. Russian company RUSAL signed an agreement in 2004 to invest more than $1 billion and finish building Rogun, but disputes over the project led the Tajik government to cancel the contract in 2007. One of the main differences between the two parties was RUSAL’s insistence the dam wall at Rogun be no higher than 285 meters, whereas the Tajik authorities wanted the original height of 335 meters. At 285 meters, the HPP’s output would have been 2400 megawatts (MW), while at 335 meters, the output would be 3600 MW. Russia’s Inter RAO EES was in talks with Tajikistan about the Rogun project in 2008, but in the end, nothing came from those negotiations. With no hope of foreign backing, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon started portraying Rogun as a project of national salvation, the key to energy independence. Rahmon’s government called on citizens to help finance construction of the HPP and when public support in the poorest country in Central Asia proved insufficient, citizens were pressured into buying shares in the project. The government in neighboring Uzbekistan objected to Rogun’s construction,...

Electricity

Kazakhstan to Import Electricity from Tajikistan to Address Energy Shortages

Kazakhstan and Tajikistan have signed an agreement on long-term cooperation in the energy sector. The agreement will remain in effect for 20 years, with the possibility of a 10-year extension. The document aims to strengthen energy security, promote environmentally friendly technologies, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Monitoring and telemetry Under the agreement, Kazakhstan will receive scheduled electricity supplies from Tajikistan, particularly from the Rogun Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP). These imports are intended to cover planned shortages in the North-South zone of Kazakhstan’s unified power system. The price is set at $0.034 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), including VAT at a zero rate. The agreement also includes the introduction of hourly electricity metering at connection points between Kazakhstan's and Central Asia’s power grids, as well as along the Tajik border. Kazakhstan's system operator, KEGOC JSC, will receive real-time telemetry data from Tajikistan via interstate transmission lines to ensure accurate metering and efficient coordination. Electricity deliveries will follow the routes specified in the purchase agreements. The primary source will be the Rogun HPP, with supplies timed to match Kazakhstan's peak shortage periods. A long-awaited step Energy cooperation between the two countries has been under discussion for some time. In August 2024, former Kazakh Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliev held talks on importing electricity from Tajikistan. These discussions also addressed the issue of unscheduled electricity flows between their power grids. By December 2024, plans were already in place to finalize a 20-year agreement. In February 2025, the deal was confirmed during talks between Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu and his Tajik counterpart, Sirojiddin Mukhriddin. “We agree that Tajik-Kazakh energy cooperation has broad prospects. We have agreed that an intergovernmental agreement on electricity will be signed in the very near future,” the Tajik foreign minister said at the time. The potential of the Rogun HPP and prospects for Kazakhstan A key element of the agreement will be the Rogun hydroelectric power plant on the Vakhsh River. Once completed, its dam will reach a height of 335 meters, making it the tallest in the world. The power plant will have a capacity of 3,600 MW, making it the largest power plant in Central Asia. This makes the project strategically important not only for Tajikistan but for the entire region. The official website of the Rogun HPP states that the facility will be the upper stage of the Vakhsh cascade and will play a key role in ensuring sustainable energy supplies. The agreement is expected to not only enable Kazakhstan to stabilize its energy balance during peak loads, but also open up new opportunities for cross-border cooperation. With the growing demand for green energy, the strategic alliance with Tajikistan could become an important element of the country's energy transition. The resolution enters into force on the day of its signing and effectively launches an intergovernmental mechanism capable of strengthening Kazakhstan's energy security for decades to come.

Energy

Kyrgyzstan Boosts Energy Capacity with Hydropower Plant Upgrade

On December 30, Kyrgyzstan marked a significant milestone by commissioning the modernized hydroelectric generating unit No. 4 at the Uch-Kurgan Hydropower Plant (HPP). This upgrade is a critical step in addressing the country’s chronic electricity shortages, particularly acute during the harsh winter months. The modernization increased the generating capacity of unit No. 4 by 20%. The project, which began in March 2024, was implemented by the China National Electric Engineering Company (CNEEC). Work on hydroelectric generating unit No. 3 is scheduled to begin in 2025. Upon completion of the overall modernization project, the operational lifespan of the Uch-Kurgan HPP will be extended by 25–30 years. The Uch-Kurgan HPP, situated on the Naryn River near Shamaldy-Sai in the Jalal-Abad region, plays a vital role in Kyrgyzstan’s energy supply. Its reservoir has a total capacity of 52.5 million cubic meters. Before reconstruction, the plant's total capacity stood at 180 MW, with four hydroelectric units producing 45 MW each. Operating since 1962, the plant had not undergone any major upgrades until now. Kyrgyzstan is actively upgrading its hydropower infrastructure to enhance energy production. On November 19, 2024, the country launched the modernized hydroelectric generating unit No. 1 at the Toktogul HPP, its largest power facility. The upgrade increased the unit’s capacity by 60 MW, raising the Toktogul HPP’s total capacity to 1,260 MW from its previous 1,200 MW. The Toktogul HPP currently provides approximately 40% of Kyrgyzstan's electricity. In addition to modernization projects, Kyrgyzstan is constructing the flagship Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant, which will have a projected capacity of 1,860 MW and an average annual generation of 5.6 billion kilowatt-hours. Upon completion, Kambarata-1 will become the country’s largest hydropower plant and is expected to eliminate Kyrgyzstan's electricity shortages. These developments reflect the country’s commitment to expanding its energy capacity, ensuring sustainable power supplies, and meeting the growing demands of its population and industries.