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Rise in Trade Between Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan

In January-August 2024, trade between Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan reached $14 million, including $6 million worth of Afghan exports to Kyrgyzstan. According to a TOLOnews report, based on data from the Afghan Ministry of Industry and Commerce, most of Afghanistan's exports to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan consist of mineral water, carpets, non-alcoholic beverages, dried fruits, fruit juices, apricots, and sesame seeds. The report was issued in the wake of an announcement on September 6, in which Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "A decision has been made to remove the Taliban from the list of prohibited organizations within the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic.” The Ministry emphasized that the removal of the Taliban, the unrecognized group that effectively controls Afghanistan, from the list of banned terrorist organizations, aims to enhance regional stability and support ongoing dialogue. Confirmation was also made of Kyrgyzstan's ongoing commitment to supporting the efforts of the international community to ensure a stable and peaceful environment in both Afghanistan and the surrounding region. Reporting on the meeting between Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, Akylbek Japarov and the Chargé d'Affaires of Afghanistan in Kyrgyzstan, Nurullah Amin, on September 6, the Kyrgyz government’s press service outlined the parties' discussions on furthering bilateral cooperation between the two countries. On the Kyrgyz side, Japarov expressed interest in developing trade and economic relations, and transport links with Afghanistan, engaging in the joint development of Afghan mineral deposits, and cooperating in the energy, industry, and agriculture sectors.

HPP Energy Economy Industry hydroelectric modernization

Restoration of Kyrgyzstan’s Largest Hydropower Plant Nears Completion

According to Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Energy, the modernization of the country’s largest hydropower plant, Toktogul HPP, which began in March, is now 80% complete. Located on the Naryn River, the Toktogul HPP comprises four hydroelectric units and with a total generating capacity of 1320 MW, provides about 40% of the country’s electricity. The rotor at the hydro unit No. 1 has been assembled and installed and when fully modernized later in 2024, the service life of the Toktogul HPP will increase by 25-30 years, ensuring a reliable and uninterrupted power supply in autumn-winter and increase the power plant’s generating capacity by 60 MW to 1380 MW. In recent years, since Kyrgyzstan has been unable to produce enough electricity to meet the growing demand, electricity has been imported from neighboring countries. In 2023, the volume of imported electricity amounted to 3.2 billion kWh. and Kyrgyz Minister of Energy Taalaibek Ibrayev reported that in the first half of 2024, Kyrgyzstan imported 2.02 billion kWh of electricity, including 909.8 million kWh from Russia and Kazakhstan, 837.5 million kWh from Turkmenistan, and 275.3 million kWh from Uzbekistan. During the first half of this year, Kyrgyzstan produced 7.07 billion kWh of electricity, including 6.2 billion kWh generated by hydroelectric power plants and 870 million kWh by thermal (coal-fired) power plants. In addition to updating its current facilities, the Ministry of Energy has committed to the construction of the Kambarata-1 HPP which destined to become Central Asia's largest hydroelectric power plant, aims to end Kyrgyzstan’s power shortages. Confident in the success of such measures, Chairman of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers, Akylbek Japarov, has announced that Kyrgyzstan will become both energy-sufficient and in a position to begin exporting electricity by 2026.

Finance Hydro power Industry HPP Energy

Three Hydraulic Units at Tajikistan’s Kairakkum Hydropower Plant Launched After Modernization

On September 7, three of the six power-generating units were put into operation after modernization at the Kairakkum hydropower plant (HPP) in the city of Guliston in Tajikistan’s northern Sughd region. Located on the Syr-Darya River, the Kairakkum HPP consists of six hydropower units, the last of which was commissioned in 1957 and has a design capacity of 21 MW. A project to modernize the aging plant was launched in August 2019. Over the past five years, hydro units Nos. 4, 5, and 6 have been completely renovated, and their capacity has increased from 19 to 29 MW. The power plant’s dam has been reinforced as part of the project. Currently, work is ongoing on rehabilitating hydro units No. 2 and 3. After the complete modernization planned for 2026, the average annual electricity production at the Kairakkum HPP will increase from 580 million kWh to 850 million kWh. It was earlier reported that the Kairakkum HPP rehabilitation project received $196 million in financing from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Green Climate Fund (GCF), Climate Investment Funds, and European Investment Bank (EIB). The financing comprised a $88 million EBRD loan, a $37 million EIB loan, a $50 million GCF loan and grant, and a $21 million Climate Investment Funds loan. In recent years, Tajikistan, which has abundant hydroenergy resources, has focused on hydropower generation projects — the largest of which is the construction of the giant Rogun dam — to solve the problem of chronic power shortages and begin electricity exports to neighbors in the region.

Trade National Bank Kyrgyzaltyn Gold Gold mining in central asia Industry

Store Selling Gold Bars to Open in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan’s state-owned gold-producing company, Kyrgyzaltyn OJSC, will open a store in Bishkek on September 5 to sell gold bars. On August 30, Kyrgyzaltyn opened a workshop for the production of gold bars in Kara-Balta, a town 100km west of Bishkek. It is Kyrgyzstan's first enterprise to produce measured gold bars, with a monthly production capacity of up to 14,000 units. The facility uses advanced technologies and modern equipment from Italy and Germany, allowing the production of souvenir coins and medals. Earlier, the mayor of Kara-Balta, Mirlan Jekshenov, told Birinchi Radio that over the next year, the enterprise plans to release up to 3,600 kilograms of gold in bars of various weights — 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 ounces and 50-100 grams — for the domestic market. In recent years, the country's government has encouraged the population to buy gold from the National Bank, saying that it is the best way for citizens to keep their savings. According to official statistics, gold accounts for almost 39% of Kyrgyzstan’s exports; in 2023, Kyrgyzstan sold more than 20 tons of gold. Most of Kyrgyzstan’s gold is produced at the country’s largest gold mine, Kumtor. Last year the mine produced 13,567 tons of gold, with a total revenue of $848 million and a net profit of $302.5 million.

Transport Export/Import Azerbaijan Industry Transit Bilateral Cooperation Economic Cooperation Economic Integration

Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan Collaborate to Construct Ferries

Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan plan to cooperate on the construction of ferries. These ferries will be provided for Uzbekistan's needs, and the project will cost $150 million. Several measures are being suggested to expand the countries' cooperation in the transport and transit sectors. The joint construction of warehouse infrastructure is being mooted, as well as the creation of a joint venture to further develop transportation along the Trans-Caspian route. The Times of Central Asia previously wrote about the Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan business forum that was held in Tashkent on August 22. As a result of the forum, a portfolio of projects worth $2 billion was formed in energy, chemistry, mining, textile, agriculture, urban development, and other areas. Also, on May 1 this year, the energy ministers of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan met in Tashkent and signed a memorandum of cooperation to connect their countries' energy networks. The initiative's main goal is to study the means of connecting energy systems through a high-voltage cable installed in the Caspian Sea to export green energy from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan to countries of the European Union.

International Relations Partnership Rare Earth Elements Bilateral Cooperation Uranium Industry Energy

Kazakhstan and Tajikistan to Cooperate Over Rare-Earth Metals

Kazakhstan’s national atomic company, Kazatomprom, the world's largest producer of uranium, has announced a new strategic partnership with Tajikistan’s TajRedMet (Tajik Rare Metals) in the mining and processing of uranium and rare and rare-earth metals. According to the parties' agreement, the companies will collaborate in exploring, mining, and processing uranium and other rare and rare-earth metals, conducting research and development work, introducing innovative technologies, and training personnel. Meirzhan Yussupov, CEO of Kazatomprom, commented: “This step is of great importance for strengthening the partnership between our companies. Although it is too early to talk about specific results, we are focused on promising joint projects in the uranium industry and rare and rare-earth metals, which can significantly benefit Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.” As part of the agreement, TajRedMet representatives will soon visit Kazakhstan to inspect Kazatomprom's production facilities and assess the potential for further cooperation in more detail. According to an IAEA research paper, Tajikistan has significant mineral resources awaiting development, including rare metals, earth elements, and uranium. Several countries have expressed interest in the development of Tajikistan’s uranium resources. Russia was considering assisting Tajikistan in developing its uranium resources, as well as assisting in geological prospecting, with the aim of involvement in the subsequent extraction and possible processing of uranium. China’s Guangdong Corporation has also expressed an interest in participating in projects to develop Tajik uranium deposits. The Tajik government has also agreed to allow Indian companies to explore for uranium mineralization. In his address to parliament in December 2023, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon ordered the government to focus on mining lithium, tungsten, nickel, and antimony, and develop a program for processing these metals domestically into finished products.