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Waste Management

Bishkek Launches Second Phase of Waste-to-Energy Plant

Bishkek has begun construction of the second phase of its waste-to-energy plant, a project city officials say will significantly expand waste processing capacity and add to the Kyrgyz capital’s energy supply. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on June 11. The facility, located at Bishkek’s main sanitary landfill, is the first waste-to-energy plant in Central Asia. Its first phase was officially inaugurated in December 2025 and was designed to process 1,000 tons of municipal solid waste per day. The plant was built by China’s Hunan Junxin Environmental Protection Co., Ltd., which invested $95 million in the project. The second phase will include a second production unit with capacity of up to 2,000 tons of waste per day and a 60-megawatt power generation complex. According to Bishkek’s city administration, once the second phase is completed, the facility will generate around 307 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to supply roughly 100,000 homes. Officials say the project uses modern thermal waste processing technologies and a multi-stage emissions treatment system that complies with international environmental standards. The expansion is expected to improve waste management in Bishkek, reduce pressure on the city’s overburdened landfill, and improve environmental conditions in the capital. Construction of the second phase is expected to take three years. Once fully completed, the plant will be able to process up to 3,000 tons of municipal solid waste per day and generate up to 90 megawatts of electricity. The launch ceremony was attended by Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev, Bishkek Mayor Aibek Junushaliev, and Chinese Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Liu Jiangping. Kasymaliev described the project as strategically important for Bishkek’s environmental future. “The start of the second phase continues a large-scale initiative aimed at radically improving the environmental situation in Bishkek and creating a green, clean and modern metropolis,” he said. Kasymaliev said the project would help solve Bishkek’s waste disposal problem while adding a source of green energy and improving air quality and public health. He also said the second phase is expected to reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 312,000 tons. The project forms part of Kyrgyzstan’s efforts to modernize urban infrastructure and address environmental challenges as Bishkek’s population and waste volumes continue to rise.

Green Energy

Tajikistan Links Green Energy Push to Regional Power Exports

Tajikistan is positioning renewable energy and regional electricity trade as central to its long-term economic strategy, as Dushanbe seeks to build on its hydropower base while reducing exposure to climate- and seasonal-supply risks. The message was delivered by Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources Sharif Makhmadzoda during a ministerial dialogue on the renewable energy transition in Central Asia. The session, titled International Cooperation for a Sustainable and Diversified Energy Future, was held as part of the Baku Energy Forum. According to Makhmadzoda, the energy transition has become one of Tajikistan’s key long-term development priorities. He said the shift toward renewable energy is not only about meeting international climate commitments, but also about strengthening energy security, supporting industrial development, and improving living standards. Tajikistan continues to place hydropower at the center of its energy strategy. Makhmadzoda noted that approximately 95% of the country’s electricity is generated by hydroelectric power plants, making the republic one of the world’s leading producers of green energy. Makhmadzoda also stressed the need to diversify the country’s energy mix, citing climate change, glacier melt, seasonal changes in river flows, and rising domestic electricity demand. Against this backdrop, the government sees modernization of the energy sector and the expansion of other renewable energy sources as increasingly important. Particular attention is being paid to the development of solar and wind power generation. Regional cooperation was another key theme of Makhmadzoda’s remarks. According to the deputy minister, Tajikistan’s renewed participation in the Central Asian Unified Energy System could play an important role in creating a regional market for clean electricity. CASA-1000 is designed to carry up to 1,300 megawatts of surplus electricity from Central Asia to high-demand markets in South Asia, linking Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan with Afghanistan and Pakistan. The comments underline a wider challenge for Tajikistan. Hydropower gives the country one of the region’s cleanest power systems, but it also leaves the energy sector heavily exposed to water availability, climate pressures, and seasonal demand peaks.

Caspian Region

Why the Caspian Is Becoming Eurasia’s New Energy Crossroads

Russia’s war in Ukraine and instability in the Middle East are accelerating the emergence of a new Eurasian energy architecture, with the Caspian region increasingly at its center. In international politics, moments when several global crises simultaneously create opportunities for new centers of influence are rare. Today, a vast area stretching from Central Asia to the South Caucasus is experiencing just such a moment. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has fundamentally reshaped Europe’s approach to energy security. Tensions in the Middle East have also raised questions about the reliability of traditional energy supply routes. Meanwhile, the global energy transition is driving demand for both clean-energy sources and alternative transport corridors. Against this backdrop, the Caspian region is no longer viewed as a peripheral economic space. It is increasingly emerging as a critical hub in Eurasia’s evolving energy system. Baku Energy Week 2026 shows how far this shift has come, highlighting Azerbaijan’s transformation from a traditional oil and gas producer into a strategic connector linking Central Asia, Türkiye, Europe, the United States, and the Middle East. One of the forum’s most significant political signals came in the form of a message from U.S. President Donald Trump to participants. His remarks went beyond a routine diplomatic greeting and reflected a broader shift toward a more pragmatic view of global energy policy. Trump described the United States as a strong supporter of Azerbaijan’s oil and gas industry and said the U.S.-Azerbaijan energy partnership would become more important in the years ahead. For much of the past decade, Western energy strategies appeared increasingly focused on rapid decarbonization and climate objectives. However, rising energy prices, Europe’s energy crisis, and growing global electricity demand have prompted policymakers to reassess those priorities. Trump openly reaffirmed support for the oil and gas sector and emphasized that the United States remains a long-standing energy partner of Azerbaijan. More importantly, Washington appears to recognize Baku’s strategic role in global energy security. The Trump administration increasingly views energy security as an element of geopolitical competition and is prepared to support projects that diversify supplies of hydrocarbons and critical raw materials. Speaking at the opening of Baku Energy Week, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said Trump’s policies had helped return energy policy to “normality.” Aliyev also noted that the oil and gas industry had faced sustained pressure from advocates of a rapid energy transition. It was therefore no coincidence that Azerbaijan signed a series of agreements during the forum with major American companies, including Chevron, JPMorgan, Oracle, and Comstock Resources. Particularly noteworthy was a cooperation agreement covering critical minerals and rare earth elements. For Washington, access to these resources is increasingly a matter not only of energy policy but also of technological and national security amid intensifying competition with China. In effect, Washington is beginning to view Azerbaijan as an important platform in a changing Eurasian energy map. While Washington is signaling renewed political backing, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan remains one of the principal architects of the region’s practical integration. Over the past...

China Energy Begins Construction of Major Wind Power Plant in Kazakhstan

Construction has begun on a 500 MW wind power plant in Kazakhstan, with the project being developed by a Kazakh–Chinese joint venture, Karaganda Wind Power LLP. The investment agreement was signed in April 2026, and construction of the facility in the Osakarov district was officially launched later last month, according to regional authorities. The project involves the development of a 500 MW wind farm, with total investment estimated at $645 million. Annual electricity generation is expected to reach around 1.6 billion kWh of green energy, with some earlier estimates placing the figure higher. Commissioning is scheduled for 2029, and the project is projected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 1.3 million tons per year. “Construction of the station is one of the key strategic initiatives, reflecting the development of green energy, which President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has identified as a priority. This is an important event for the region: new capacity, technologies, and jobs,” said Karaganda region governor Yermaganbet Bulekpayev at the launch ceremony. The project includes the installation of around 60–65 wind turbines near the village of Saryozek, although final technical specifications have not been consistently confirmed. These are expected to be among the largest turbines deployed in Kazakhstan. Around 600 jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase, with permanent positions to follow once the plant becomes operational. “Next-generation wind turbines will be used in this project, and operational processes will be managed using artificial intelligence,” said Kairat Maksutov. The site was selected due to its strong and consistent wind conditions, particularly along the Osakarovka-Saryozek-Telman corridor, where a 150 MW wind project is already in operation. The project forms part of Kazakhstan’s broader push to expand renewable energy capacity, which currently stands at just 7% of its energy mixed. In December last year, China Energy Engineering Group also began construction of a 300 MW solar power plant in the Sauran district of the Turkestan region in southern Kazakhstan. The project, with an investment of about $320 million, is expected to be completed by the end of this year. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, China Energy International Group is also active in the Uzbekistan energy market.

Tajikistan Accelerates Transition to Green Energy

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.

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...