A look at Eurasia’s top news | Launch of Central Asia’s electricity market

Pars Today – The World Bank has approved a 10-year plan for regional electricity connectivity and trade in Central Asia.

The Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank approved the 10-year Regional Electricity Market Integration and Trade (REMIT) program. This ambitious initiative is designed to establish the first regional electricity market in Central Asia, aiming to strengthen cross-border electricity trade, increase energy transmission capacity, and expand the large-scale use of renewable energy.

According to the Times of Central Asia website, electricity demand in the region is expected to triple by 2050. However, at present, electricity trade only meets three percent of the region’s total needs.

The REMIT program aims to utilize the diverse energy resources of Central Asian countries in a complementary manner. Hydropower from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, thermal energy from coal and natural gas in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as the region’s expanding solar and wind capacities, are all part of this plan.

The program intends to establish a regional electricity market that will enable electricity trade across the region on a scale sufficient to supply millions of consumers. By increasing transmission capacity, it will connect the power systems of the participating countries and make them more flexible and resilient.

CIS countries support Turkmenistan’s chairmanship of the union

Meanwhile, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries have expressed full support for Turkmenistan’s chairmanship of the organization in 2026, signaling consensus on Ashgabat’s role within the post-Soviet bloc.

According to the Times of Central Asia website, the CIS Executive Committee’s statement indicated that member states have agreed to assist Turkmenistan in implementing its chairmanship agenda, including organizational, analytical, and coordination support. This commitment was discussed during consultations attended by CIS officials and representatives of member governments, with a focus on continuity and practical cooperation within the organization.

Turkmenistan, which maintains a policy of permanent neutrality and typically limits its participation in multilateral institutions, is expected to use its chairmanship to emphasize economic cooperation, transport connectivity, and humanitarian initiatives.