Kazakhstan Considers Using Uzbekistan’s Grid for Importing Tajikistan Electricity
Kazakhstan to Import Electricity from Tajikistan through Uzbekistan’s Transit Capacity
Kazakhstan is making plans to import electricity from Tajikistan by utilizing Uzbekistan’s transit capacity, as announced by the press service of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy. This decision comes after a memorandum of understanding was signed in 2023 between Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, which includes electricity supplies from the Rogun Hydroelectric Power Station from 2023 to 2032.
The Rogun Hydroelectric Power Station is currently under construction in Tajikistan on the Vakhsh River, forming part of the Vakhsh cascade as its upper tier. The completion of this $2.2 billion project is scheduled for 2029.
The Energy Minister of Kazakhstan recently held discussions with representatives from the Tajikistan government and the Ministry of Energy to negotiate the technical specifications and commercial terms related to the export of electricity to Kazakhstan. However, the implementation of this project is contingent upon the technical capabilities and agreed-upon terms for the passage of electricity through Uzbekistan.
Although Uzbekistan had considered participating in the construction of the Rogun Hydroelectric Power Station in 2018, no definitive decision was reached at that time. In 2022, the government also expressed its interest in purchasing electricity from the Rogun Hydroelectric Power Station specifically during the summer period.
The successful execution of this project will rely heavily on the cooperation and coordination between Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as the technical capabilities of Uzbekistan’s power grids. The development of this electricity import initiative holds significant promise for enhancing cross-border energy cooperation in the region.
