Electricity supply - The Times Of Central Asia

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Renewable energy

Kyrgyzstan’s Renewable Pivot and the Strategic Weight of China’s Rising Role

China’s energy engagement in Central Asia has undergone a quiet but decisive transformation since 2018. What was once a relationship built almost entirely on pipelines, hydrocarbons, and state-backed fossil fuel projects is now expanding into a much more diversified portfolio in which renewable energy plays an increasingly central role. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were the first to attract large-scale Chinese commitments in solar and wind power, yet Kyrgyzstan is quickly emerging as the newest frontier in this shift. Recent agreements demonstrate how Bishkek is rapidly positioning itself within China’s clean energy expansion. In 2022, Kyrgyzstan signed an agreement with Chinese investors to build a 1-gigawatt solar plant in Issyk-Kul. Furthermore, the government concluded another agreement with Shenzhen Energy Group for the construction of two additional power plants, one solar and one wind. The Energy Ministry has also reached an investment deal with States Technology Co. and San Energy Co. for a 250-megawatt solar facility in Batken. These projects indicate that Chinese capital is not only filling Kyrgyzstan’s immediate energy gaps, but is also beginning to reshape the country’s long-term energy structure. This push toward solar and wind arrives at a critical moment. Kyrgyzstan remains overwhelmingly dependent on hydropower, which generates more than 90% of the country’s electricity. Yet this climate-sensitive resource is now far less stable than in the past. Shifts in water levels driven by changing weather patterns have introduced new uncertainties into the country’s ability to meet domestic demand. At the same time, electricity consumption has surged at an unprecedented rate, rising by nearly one billion kilowatt hours in a single year due to newly launched industrial enterprises and rapid residential construction. The combination of climate volatility and soaring consumption has placed the energy system under severe strain. The government has declared a three-year energy emergency and introduced consumption restrictions designed to save approximately 40 kilowatt hours per month. Under these conditions, diversifying away from near-total reliance on hydropower is no longer optional but an urgent strategic necessity. Solar and wind investments offer a viable path forward. Expanding renewable capacity will give Kyrgyzstan a more predictable and resilient energy base, enabling the country to better manage seasonal shortages and climate-driven disruptions. Kyrgyzstan also imports all of its fossil fuels. As renewable capacity expands and the use of electric vehicles increases, the country could gradually reduce its dependence on oil imports from Russia, easing both financial pressures and geopolitical exposure. For this reason, cooperation with China represents more than a set of commercial transactions. It is evolving into a strategic pillar of Kyrgyzstan’s broader effort to strengthen energy security and modernize its power system. Chinese companies bring financing, technology, and implementation speed, all of which are essential for a country facing immediate and long-term energy risks. The benefits may extend beyond the domestic market. With sufficient renewable capacity, Kyrgyzstan could eventually re-enter regional electricity trade as an exporter. Some estimates suggest that cross-border energy sales could generate up to 220 million dollars annually in foreign currency earnings, providing a significant...

Electricity supply

Uzbekistan to Extend Electricity Supplies to Afghanistan Through 2026

Uzbekistan will continue supplying electricity to Afghanistan in 2026, the Ministry of Energy announced following a bilateral meeting in Tashkent between Uzbek Energy Minister Jorabek Mirzamahmudov and Abdul Bori Umar, Chief Executive of Afghanistan’s state-owned power company Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS). Senior officials from Uzbekistan’s energy sector also participated in the talks. The two sides referenced recent statements by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly and during the Central Asia summit held in Tashkent, where he underscored the importance of supporting the Afghan people and fostering the country’s economic development. Officials said these efforts are helping to reinforce energy cooperation between the neighboring countries. The meeting also covered progress on joint energy infrastructure projects, including the construction of high-voltage transmission lines and substations within Afghanistan. Both sides agreed to accelerate implementation of these facilities. The session concluded with the signing of a new contract extending Uzbekistan’s electricity supply to Afghanistan through 2026. According to the Ministry of Energy, the agreement demonstrates the shared interest of both countries in ensuring stable power delivery and strengthening Afghanistan’s energy infrastructure. Earlier this year, DABS reported that it had signed four contracts worth $243 million with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy, along with partners Nego Energy and Uz Energy. These projects include the extension of the 500-kilovolt Surkhan-Dasht Alwan transmission line, capable of transmitting up to 1,000 megawatts; expansion of the Arghandeh substation to 800 MVA; construction of a new Sheikh Mesri substation in Nangarhar Province; and the extension of the 220-kilovolt Kabul-Nangarhar (Sheikh Mesri) line.

Electricity supply

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan Brace for Winter Power Shortages

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...

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.