Tajikistan’s Electricity Trade Gets a Boost with New Transmission Line in Central Asia
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $15 million grant for Tajikistan to construct a 22-kilometer, 500-kilovolt transmission line, as reported by the ADB’s press service on Oct. 8. This transmission line will connect the Sughd substation in northern Tajikistan with the New Syr Darya substation in Uzbekistan, aiming to increase electricity export and import capacity among Central Asian countries.
According to ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Eugenue Zhukov, this project is part of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program, which promotes regional energy trade in Central Asia and beyond. By strengthening the infrastructure and preventing grid disruptions, the ADB support aims to increase the resilience of the regional energy system and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region.
The Central Asian Power System (CAPS), also known as the Central Asian electricity ring, was initially established as a new model in 1997, including the southern part of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. This system allowed for the regulation of seasonal fluctuations in electricity demand and water supply, with countries depending on each other for resources.
Although Turkmenistan left CAPS in 2003, causing the system to cease functioning by 2009, it was reestablished in 2019. The initiative to enhance interdependence and collaboration in the energy sector among Central Asian countries continues to play a crucial role in promoting regional stability and sustainability.
