Energy Transition - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 11

Nuclear Energy

U.S. Promotes Small Nuclear Reactors in Uzbekistan

The United States is promoting small modular nuclear reactors in Uzbekistan as Tashkent develops its nuclear power sector with Russia. Secretary of State Marco Rubio promoted the technology during his October 19 visit to Samarkand, linking it to rising energy demand. “We’re introducing U.S. small modular reactors and modernizing the Uzbek electric grid and gas distribution network,” Rubio told the U.S.-Uzbekistan Business and Investment Council. He said the cooperation would help the government keep pace with growing energy demand. Rubio did not name a reactor supplier or announce financing or a construction schedule for an American plant. Uzbekistan’s interest predates Rubio’s visit. In November 2025, the country expressed interest in studying designs from Holtec, GE Hitachi, and NuScale, according to the World Nuclear Association. Tashkent has pursued those discussions alongside its current nuclear partnership with Russia. Small modular reactors generally have an electrical capacity of up to 300 megawatts per unit, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Factories can manufacture their components and assemble them on site. Utilities can add smaller units in stages as demand increases. For Uzbekistan, nuclear power forms part of an effort to expand electricity supply as domestic gas production declines. Once a net gas exporter, the country became a net importer in 2023. Gas output fell 16.3% year-on-year in January-August 2026, increasing pressure on supplies. The World Nuclear Association puts natural gas at 76% of Uzbekistan’s electricity output in 2023. Reducing the amount burned in power stations could ease import needs and leave more available for industry, including petrochemicals. Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom is developing Uzbekistan’s first nuclear complex in the Forish district of the Jizzakh region. The design combines two large Russian VVER-1000 reactors with two smaller RITM-200N units, providing about 2.1 gigawatts of capacity. The smaller reactors are each rated at 55 megawatts. Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Vladimir Putin launched the project by video link in June, accompanied by a concrete pouring ceremony. The development has expanded substantially since the countries agreed in 2024 to build a plant consisting of six small reactors. The published schedule envisages a technical launch of the first small unit in late 2029, with the larger units following in the 2030s. Nuclear generation is therefore several years away. Uzbekistan must also improve the networks that deliver electricity to homes and businesses. Following a nationwide referendum on the issue, Kazakhstan is also investing in nuclear power. Its planned Balkhash plant, near Ulken on Lake Balkhash, will use Russian technology. A nuclear agreement signed in May envisages two VVER-1200 reactors with a combined capacity of about 2.4 gigawatts. Kazakhstan’s Atomic Energy Agency put the project’s cost at approximately $16.5 billion, including security and supporting infrastructure. Kazakhstan’s strategy calls for at least three nuclear power plants by 2050. China National Nuclear Corporation has been selected to lead the second project. The country is the world’s largest uranium producer, but developing power stations also requires foreign reactor technology and expertise. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have begun cooperating on nuclear safety. Officials...

Air Pollution

Air Pollution in Central Asia: Why Winter Smog Persists in Almaty, Bishkek, and Tashkent

Almaty is investing 325.9 billion tenge (about $720 million) in converting a coal-fired power plant to natural gas, but the plant will continue burning coal for several more years. Bishkek is restricting certain types of coal while maintaining supplies of permitted fuel for winter. Tashkent reported lower pollution over much of the year, though early October brought a sharp increase in harmful particles. Across these three Central Asian cities, winter smog remains a problem as the heating season begins. According to World Bank estimates, concentrations of fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, in major Central Asian cities frequently exceed World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines by six to twelve times, particularly in winter. PM2.5 particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and increase the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. During colder months, emissions from heating and transportation accumulate near the ground. When winds are weak and temperature inversions occur, polluted air can remain trapped over a city for several days. Almaty: Gas Conversion, Coal Remains Almaty's heating season began on October 9, with schools and hospitals connected first, followed by residential buildings on October 10. By then, the modernization of CHP-2, the city's largest coal-fired heating plant and one of its biggest sources of industrial emissions, had yet to be completed. According to project estimates, converting the plant to natural gas should reduce annual emissions of harmful substances from 37,300 tons to 2,700 tons. However, those reductions will not be achieved immediately after the new equipment begins operating. Environmental assessment documents cited by Kursiv indicate that coal-fired boilers and turbines will continue operating alongside gas-fired units in 2027–2029 during commissioning and periods of peak winter demand. The documents also envisage keeping coal-fired equipment in operation into the 2030s to safeguard energy supplies in case of gas shortages. Vehicle exhaust is another major problem for Almaty. In April, the city introduced a pilot low-emission zone (LEZ) in its center. Until the end of the year, the zone is operating without entry fees, fines, or traffic restrictions. Separately, citywide emissions checks have been underway since the beginning of 2026. By late August, inspectors had tested 5,496 vehicles and found 1,301 exceeding emissions limits, nearly a quarter of those checked. Violations detected during citywide inspections can result in penalties. Bishkek: Coal Restrictions, but No Easy Alternative In Bishkek, the main cause of winter smog is heating in private homes. Residential heating accounts for approximately 29% of air pollution, transportation for 27%, and dust for 21%. Combined emissions from the main thermal power plant and smaller boiler houses account for 11%, according to international research cited by the city administration. In October 2025, the municipal authorities imposed restrictions on the sale, storage, and use of fine coal in Bishkek. They also stepped up inspections targeting waste burning and began converting some boiler houses to cleaner fuels. On October 1, 2026, the mayor's office announced plans to maintain adequate supplies of coal meeting quality standards at fuel depots across the city. For many private residents,...

AIIB

AIIB and Uzbekistan Agree on $5 Billion Infrastructure Project Pipeline

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Uzbekistan have agreed on a pipeline of potential infrastructure projects worth up to $5 billion for 2026-2029. The two sides also signed a $1.5 million grant agreement to help prepare a project to modernize the country’s electricity transmission network. The updated Multi-Year Rolling Pipeline (MYRP) was signed on the sidelines of the AIIB’s 11th Annual Meeting in Doha. The document identifies areas for potential financing through 2029. The $5 billion figure represents a pipeline of prospective investments, rather than loans already approved by the bank. Uzbekistan is a founding member of the AIIB and is the bank’s largest partner in Central Asia, accounting for 51% of its operations in the region, according to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade. Tashkent is seeking to expand cooperation on cross-border transport, energy, and water projects, while bringing more private capital into infrastructure development. The AIIB also agreed to provide a $1.5 million grant to help prepare the electricity transmission project. The funding will support technical studies, assessments of investment needs and climate risks, and preparations for integrating new solar and wind power plants into the grid. The work will focus on the southern energy corridor between the Surkhandarya and Samarkand regions and on the Fergana Valley. The studies are intended to identify bottlenecks in the transmission network and options for increasing its capacity. Grid modernization is becoming one of the key challenges in Uzbekistan’s energy transition. The government says renewable energy accounted for around 30% of electricity generation in 2025 and aims to raise the share to 54% by 2030. Connecting additional generating capacity will require both an expansion of the high-voltage transmission network and improvements in its reliability. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Uzbekistan plans to commission more than 17 GW of additional renewable energy capacity and build around 6,000 kilometers of high-voltage transmission lines by 2030. The expansion of green generation is becoming increasingly important as domestic gas production declines: Uzbekistan, once a net gas exporter, became a net importer in 2023.

Oil and Gas

U.S. Firm to Test Oilfield Water Recycling in Kazakhstan

U.S.-based IBL Elements will test technology in Kazakhstan for treating water produced during oil and gas extraction. The treated water could be reused, while the substances it contains will be studied to determine whether valuable and critical minerals can potentially be recovered. IBL Elements, the National Hydrogeological Service Kazhydrogeology, and oil producer Kazakhoil Aktobe have signed a memorandum of cooperation. The parties are preparing a pilot project to test technologies for treating industrial and produced water at oil and gas facilities. Produced water occurs naturally in underground formations and is brought to the surface along with oil and gas. Once separated from hydrocarbons, it can be treated for reuse or disposal, or reinjected underground. The new project is intended to determine whether some of this water can be returned to industrial use. Specialists will also study its composition and the possibility of recovering minerals. For now, the project is limited to research and testing. No commercial extraction of any elements has been announced. IBL Elements is based in Oklahoma and develops technologies for treating oilfield wastewater and recovering minerals from brines. The company says it is developing iodine extraction technology and also plans to recover lithium and other minerals. If the trials are successful, the technology could also be used at other oil and gas facilities in Kazakhstan, according to Bolat Bekniyaz, chairman of Kazhydrogeology. The project comes as American interest in Kazakhstan’s critical minerals is growing. In June, representatives of more than 20 U.S. companies and government agencies attended the AMM 2026 mining and metallurgy congress in Astana. Washington is looking at projects in Kazakhstan involving not only mining, but also processing and the development of new supply chains. For the IBL Elements project, critical minerals are only one part of the equation. The other is growing pressure on Kazakhstan’s water supplies. The country uses about 25 billion cubic meters of water annually, with industry accounting for roughly a quarter of that amount. Kazakhstan’s new Water Code requires industrial enterprises and heat producers to gradually transition to circulating and reused water supply systems. So far, 168 transition plans have been prepared. The authorities aim to increase the share of reused water in industry from 13% to 28% by 2030. The issue is particularly acute in Kazakhstan’s oil-producing west, where freshwater shortages coincide with large volumes of water brought to the surface during oil production. The outcome of the pilot will therefore depend on two factors: whether this water can be treated for reuse and whether it contains minerals at concentrations high enough to make their recovery economically viable.

AMM 2026

U.S. Investors Show Growing Interest in Kazakhstan’s Mining Sector

U.S. investors are showing growing interest in Kazakhstan’s critical minerals sector, with attention increasingly focused not only on extraction but also on processing, metallurgy and broader supply-chain development, according to Nicole Rodgers, president of the U.S.-based Alliance for Mineral Security, an industry group representing companies involved in mining, processing and the use of strategic minerals. Rodgers spoke during the panel session “Investment Climate in Mining and Metallurgy” at the Astana Mining & Metallurgy Congress, AMM 2026, where she emphasized that predictability and regulatory consistency are among the most important conditions for attracting global capital. “In our view, Kazakhstan is moving in the right direction, including by harmonizing regulations with international standards, developing early-stage geological exploration, building industrial clusters and moving toward more sophisticated investment structures,” Rodgers said. “At the same time, American investors are interested not only in extraction, but in participating across the entire value chain.” She pointed to an agreement between U.S.-based Cove Capital and Kazakhstan’s national mining company Tau-Ken Samruk on the joint development of the Severny Katpar and Verkhne Kairakty tungsten deposits in the Karaganda region of central Kazakhstan. Under the deal, the investment package includes plans to build two processing plants and a metallurgical facility, with a total projected value of $1.1 billion. Interest from Washington has also been reinforced at the political level. Speaking at the C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue in June, U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor said Washington intended to play an active role in developing Central Asia’s mining sectors. “Interest in Kazakhstan from American investors is high, but for that interest to materialize in practice, infrastructure, energy capacity and skilled personnel are critical,” Rodgers added. While foreign interest is rising, industry representatives said Kazakhstan’s ability to convert that interest into long-term investment will depend on the consistency of its legal and regulatory framework. Nikolai Radostovets, executive director of the Republican Association of Mining and Metallurgical Enterprises, said amendments to Kazakhstan’s Subsoil Code, adopted in 2018, should now be aligned with changes in environmental, water and land legislation introduced in recent years. Ruslan Baimishev, president of the Kazakhstan Mining Chamber, also highlighted the importance of legislative stability, particularly in tax policy, saying investors require consistency in government decisions. World Bank Senior Mining Specialist Remy Pelon said many countries are reforming their mining sectors to meet growing demand for minerals needed for the global energy transition. At the same time, Pelon warned against overcorrection. “Governments must create conditions for the efficient use of mineral resources in the interests of national development, but it is equally important to preserve a balance between industrial policy, openness to new market players and competitiveness,” he said. “That balance is especially important for countries aiming not only to extract raw materials, but also to develop processing, local manufacturing and technological expertise.” Kazakh officials used the forum to underscore recent legal measures designed to improve investor protections. Arman Khassenov, deputy chairman of the Committee for the Protection of Investors’ Rights under the Prosecutor General’s Office,...

Energy Transition

Kazakhstan Launches QaJET Investment Platform for Just Energy Transition

Kazakhstan has announced the launch of the QaJET (Just Energy Transition) investment platform, supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), to attract international financing and accelerate the decarbonization of its economy. A corresponding memorandum was signed on April 23 during the Regional Environmental Summit in Astana. Signatories included Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nysanbayev, and EBRD Managing Director for Central Asia and Mongolia Hüseyin Özhan. The QaJET platform reflects Kazakhstan’s ambition to accelerate the transition to clean energy through a large-scale expansion of renewable energy capacity. According to current plans, the country aims to commission 10 GW of new green capacity by 2035. According to EBRD estimates, achieving these targets will require approximately $20 billion in investment from both public and private sources. This is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 20 million tonnes annually, equivalent to roughly 7% of the country’s energy-related emissions. The creation of the platform is of strategic importance for Kazakhstan, whose economy remains highly carbon-intensive and heavily dependent on coal-fired power generation. At the request of the Kazakh government, the EBRD participated in developing the QaJET concept and will continue to coordinate its implementation with national and international partners. The platform is also intended to support Kazakhstan’s international climate commitments, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 25% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. QaJET is expected not only to reduce emissions but also to strengthen energy security, enhance economic competitiveness, and promote the development of local high-tech manufacturing in the renewable energy sector. Key areas of cooperation within the platform include expanding renewable energy capacity, modernizing power grids and energy storage systems, electrifying businesses and households, and supporting a just transition, technology transfer, and the development of research and innovation capacity. Authorities expect QaJET to become the central mechanism for coordinating climate finance, bringing together international financial institutions, donors, private investors, and the government to accelerate Kazakhstan’s energy transition.