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Energy

Tajikistan’s Energy Paradox

Tajikistan stands out among developing countries for having achieved near-universal access to electricity by 2022. This milestone, documented in the international SDG7-2025 report by the UN, World Bank, WHO, IEA, and IRENA, places the country alongside Eastern European and South Caucasus states in electrification. However, beneath this achievement lie persistent vulnerabilities, particularly in rural and mountainous regions, where winter brings regular power outages due to seasonal dips in hydropower generation and surging demand. Firewood and Coal Still Dominant Despite near-total electrification, Tajikistan remains significantly behind in access to clean cooking fuels. Fewer than 40% of the population use modern, safe technologies. In villages, the majority of households still rely on coal, firewood, or even manure for heating and cooking, practices that pose serious environmental and health risks, especially for women and children. Tajikistan’s power sector is heavily dependent on hydropower, which accounts for over 90% of electricity production. While this results in low CO₂ emissions, it also creates structural vulnerabilities. Climate change and glacial retreat threaten the reliability of this single energy source. Meanwhile, the potential of solar and wind energy remains largely untapped due to a lack of investment, insufficient institutional frameworks, and limited support for decentralized energy projects. Lagging in Energy Efficiency Tajikistan is one of the most energy-intensive countries in the region. Aging heating systems, poorly insulated buildings, and inefficient technologies in agriculture and industry all contribute to this inefficiency. The SDG7 report emphasizes the need to upgrade buildings and adopt energy-saving technologies. Some progress has been made: with assistance from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), thermal upgrades are underway in schools and hospitals. In 2021, Tajikistan received approximately $100 million in international support for energy projects, most of it allocated to hydropower. Major donors include the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and various UN agencies. However, investment in solar and wind energy, as well as broader energy efficiency initiatives, remains negligible. Experts are urging international partners to revise their priorities and fund projects that directly improve living standards, particularly in remote and rural areas. A Regional Disparity in Investment The pace of energy transition varies across Central Asia. While electrification is largely complete, access to clean cooking fuels remains uneven. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are notably behind in this area. In contrast, Uzbekistan has emerged as a regional leader, securing the bulk of international energy investment. Uzbekistan, on the contrary, entered the top five world leaders in attracting investments in green energy. Globally, progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) is slowing. As of 2022, 91% of the world’s population had access to electricity, but over two billion people still rely on harmful fuels for cooking. Energy efficiency improvements are lagging, advancing at just one-quarter of the pace needed to meet 2030 targets. Charting a Path Forward Experts recommend three immediate priorities for Tajikistan. First, scaling up decentralized solar and wind energy projects. Second, investing in the energy efficiency of buildings and infrastructure. Third, expanding access to clean cooking fuels through...

Tobacco

Kyrgyz Health Minister Proposes Raising Tobacco Taxes to Curb Smoking

Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Health, Erkin Checheybayev, has proposed raising excise taxes on tobacco products as part of a broader effort to improve public health, particularly among the country’s youth. The proposal was announced at a meeting held on June 10 in Bishkek, organized by the Ministry of Health in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) country office and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Knowledge Hub on Tobacco Taxation. The discussion focused on strategies to reduce tobacco affordability and consumption through effective taxation measures. According to the Ministry of Health, tobacco use is a leading risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke, chronic respiratory illnesses, and cancer. These diseases account for more than 80% of premature deaths in Kyrgyzstan. WHO estimates indicate that more than 6,000 Kyrgyz citizens aged 30 and older die annually from tobacco-related illnesses, around 5,000 men and 1,000 women. Cardiovascular diseases make up over half of these deaths. The economic toll from tobacco-related cardiovascular conditions exceeds 17 billion Kyrgyzstani som (approximately $194 million). Roughly 22% of adults in Kyrgyzstan smoke, including one in two men. Among individuals aged 35-69, up to 30% of men and 5% of women die from tobacco-related causes. For these age groups, smoking reduces life expectancy by an average of 21 years. Despite the public health burden, Kyrgyzstan’s current tobacco excise tax remains below 50% of the retail price of cigarettes, significantly lower than the WHO-recommended threshold of 75% or more. According to WHO research, taxation is among the most effective tools for reducing tobacco use. A 10% increase in cigarette prices can lower smoking rates among children and adolescents by approximately 8% in developing countries. On June 9, a delegation from the WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub met with Checheybayev in Bishkek to present the TETSiM simulation model, an analytical tool demonstrating how raising excise taxes can both reduce tobacco consumption and increase government revenue. The mission will remain in Kyrgyzstan until June 12, providing technical support for developing an effective tobacco taxation policy, increasing public awareness, and building support for stronger tobacco control measures. “Raising excise taxes on tobacco products is one of the most effective and scientifically validated strategies for protecting public health,” Checheybayev stated. “Tobacco remains far too affordable in Kyrgyzstan, contributing directly to the rise of non-communicable diseases. We are committed to systemic reform and look forward to the continued support of international partners.” Meeting participants agreed that a higher tobacco tax would not only yield billions in savings for the national healthcare system but also represent a critical investment in the health and future of Kyrgyzstan’s population. Reforming tobacco taxation policy could position Kyrgyzstan as a regional leader in the fight against smoking, setting an example for other Central Asian nations.

Healthcare

Central Asia Launches Joint Initiative to Eliminate Tuberculosis by 2030

All five Central Asian nations have launched a regional campaign titled “Central Asia Free of Tuberculosis” with the ambitious goal of eliminating tuberculosis (TB), including drug-resistant strains, across the region by 2030, according to Turkmenportal. The initiative is led by the WHO Regional Office for Europe and supported by international health organizations. Health ministers and senior officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan convened in Astana to formally launch the campaign and sign a joint declaration. The agreement outlines commitments to work closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Stop TB Partnership, the Global Fund, civil society organizations, and other partners. Over the past decade, the five countries have made significant strides in combating TB through the introduction of new treatments and improved disease surveillance systems. The new initiative aims to accelerate these efforts toward total eradication. Key Objectives of the Initiative Include: Testing Coverage: Ensure that at least 95% of all new and recurrent TB cases are diagnosed using rapid WHO-recommended diagnostic tools, which are already in place across the region. Treatment Expansion: Broaden access to shorter, injection-free treatments for drug-resistant TB, which have demonstrated success rates of over 85%. Vaccine Preparedness: Prepare national health systems for the rollout of new TB vaccines once they become available. Primary Healthcare Integration: Incorporate TB diagnosis and treatment into each country’s primary healthcare system, with support from WHO’s Primary Health Care Centre in Almaty. WHO Regional Director Dr. Hans Kluge commended the political leadership demonstrated by the Central Asian governments. He emphasized that the region is now closer than ever to achieving TB elimination but must sustain its commitment through continued investments and stigma-reduction efforts to ensure equitable access to care. The regional strategy is expected to yield significant results by 2027 and will serve as a framework for monitoring and accelerating progress toward TB elimination in Central Asia.

Infrastructure Development

Kyrgyz Government Adopts Strategic Task to Construct Eco-City

On October 14, Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov signed a Decree to construct the eco-city "Asman" near the village of Toru-Aigyr on the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, the country's main region for tourism and recreation. Spanning 4,000 hectares, some 200km southeast of the capital Bishkek and dubbed a "smart city", Asman aims to become the country’s new economic and tourist hub and home to modern business, recreational and sports facilities, hi-tech parks, and financial institutions. It will also provide homes for around 500,000 residents. From a bird's eye view, Asman (the Kyrgyz word for "sky") will resemble a komuz, a traditional Kyrgyz string musical instrument and one of Kyrgyzstan's national symbols. According to Kyrgyz officials, the new city financed by foreign investors, will be built over the next 7-10 years but although the capsule-laying ceremony took place in June 2023, construction has yet to begin. Speaking at the ceremony, President Japarov remarked that “the city of Asman will become a financial hub connecting East and West, North and South.” As reported by the presidential press service, the construction of the eco-city is a “strategic task” for the country’s Cabinet of Ministers and local authorities of the Issyk-Kul region, with a key objective to protect the biosphere territory adjacent to the lake. According to the decree, the Cabinet of Ministers should develop and approve a concept for the construction of Asman by March 1, 2025, ensuring the preservation and protection of the environment during the city’s construction. It has also been recommended that a ban be placed in the city on hydrocarbon-fueled (gasoline, diesel, gas) transport in preference for electric transport and bicycles. For this purpose, the decree orders the creation of electric transport infrastructure and charging stations, as well as necessary conditions for the use of bicycles to ensure mobility of the city's population. In addition, the decree orders the use of energy-saving solutions and smart home technologies in the construction of buildings, and compliance with the World Health Organization's environmental standards for greening cities and introducing an environmentally safe waste management system. The realization of such a mega project has inevitably raised questions regarding finance, with construction costs currently estimated at around $20 billion. The Asman project shares similarities to the city of Arkadag in Turkmenistan. Unveiled in June 2023, the “smart” city of Arkadag was built from scratch 30 km south of Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat. Designed to accommodate a population of 70,000, it cost billions of dollars to construct.

Ecology

New Report From World Bank Condemns Tashkent Air Quality

A new World Bank report entitled "Air Quality Assessment for Tashkent and the Roadmap for Air Quality Management Improvement in Uzbekistan" gives a frightening assessment of the air quality in the country’s capital. The report finds that ambient PM2.5 concentrations in Tashkent, which peak in winter, substantially exceed international air quality standards. The annual average concentration exceeds six times the WHO’s average yearly guideline of 5 µg/m3. In Tashkent, PM2.5 ambient air pollution has considerable health and economic costs. It can be linked to health costs equivalent to 0.7% of Uzbekistan’s gross domestic product (GDP). Most air quality-related diseases and premature deaths in Uzbekistan and worldwide are linked to PM2.5, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified as the pollutant with the gravest health risk. According to IQAir, Tashkent, like other Central Asian cities, frequently ranks among the world's most polluted urban areas. According to the report, the primary sources of human-caused PM2.5 pollution in Tashkent are the heating (28%), transport (16%), and industrial sectors (13%). Cross-boundary sources like windblown dust (36% PM2.5 pollution) dominate in the summer, while commercial and residential heating is the primary source of PM2.5 pollution in the winter. The report’s AQM roadmap for Uzbekistan formulates priority actions such as updating air quality standards and legislation, developing a national AQM strategy and coordination mechanism, and taking measures in the industrial, transport, and heating sectors, which are most responsible for air pollution. The AQM roadmap recommends investments in emission reduction measures. The roadmap suggests that emissions from the heating sector can be reduced by improving the quality of fuels used and the efficiency of heating appliances, implementing energy efficiency measures, and switching to cleaner heating alternatives. At a government meeting on October 9, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a draft master plan for the city of Tashkent until 2045. Today the population of Tashkent is more than 3 million people, and it keeps growing. Over the past ten years, the average air temperature in Tashkent has increased by 1 degree Celsius. The number of cars is rising, and traffic is becoming increasingly congested. The new master plan takes these aspects into account. It plans to increase green areas in Tashkent and its suburbs threefold to 25,000 hectares, which will increase per capita green area from the current 3 to 6 square meters. Mirziyoyev emphasized the need to turn Tashkent into a city where at least 7.5 million people can live and work.

health security

WHO and UNDP to Upgrade Kazakhstan’s Virological Labs

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Healthcare, the World Health Organization (WHO) Office in Kazakhstan, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have announced a strategic partnership to upgrade the country's critical health infrastructure, supported by a three-year grant from the Pandemic Fund. As reported by UNDP in Kazakhstan, the collaboration will better prepare Kazakhstan for potential pandemics by enhancing its management of response to infectious diseases. Key components of the initiative include renovating and modernizing Almaty's virological laboratory and the construction of another in Turkestan. Both facilities will incorporate SMART (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) as well as “green” technologies to ensure sustainability and environmental responsibility. The project also includes the renovation of the National Scientific Center of Especially Dangerous Infections in Almaty to improve the infrastructure, functionality, and safety standards of its virological and bacteriological laboratories, and the modernization of sanitary and quarantine checkpoints across Kazakhstan. Russia earlier reported on the alleged existence of US laboratories developing biological weapons in Kazakhstan. Issued by the Kremlin-controlled media in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the report's claims have been staunchly denied by Zauresh Zhumadilova, Director General of the National Scientific Center of Especially Dangerous Infections under the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan. According to Zhumadilova, all laboratories in Kazakhstan belong to the government and are controlled by the country’s Ministry of Health. In June, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Kanat Iskakov, also commented on rumors concerning the alleged existence of foreign biological laboratories in Kazakhstan and reiterated, “The [Kazakh] Ministry of Foreign Affairs and authorized bodies have several times stated that there are no biological laboratories run by the USA or any other country, in Kazakhstan." He added that the research center in Almaty, fully funded by the state, is run by local specialists. Reuters has reported that artificial intelligence (AI) was behind the fake news, originated in China, about the existence of U.S. laboratories allegedly developing biological weapons in Kazakhstan. Referencing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 2024 Homeland Threat Assessment, the agency stated that a Chinese government-controlled news site using a generative AI platform, had promoted a previously circulated false claim that the United States was running a lab in Kazakhstan to create biological weapons for use against China. According to DHS, China and other adversaries are developing AI technologies that could undermine U.S. cyber defenses, including generative AI programs that support malware attacks. In response, Reuters reports that the Biden administration is poised to launch a new front to safeguard the U.S. from AI technologies developed by China and Russia, and comments on the potential employment of AI by U.S. adversaries to wage aggressive cyberattacks or even create potent biological weapons.