Central Asia’s energy systems are becoming increasingly vulnerable as countries depend heavily on single power sources while facing mounting climate pressures, a new report by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) warns.
The report highlights how nations such as Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan rely largely on hydropower, while Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan depend on gas and other hydrocarbons - leaving them exposed to supply disruptions and extreme weather.
Speaking to AnewZ, Richard Spooner from the Caspian Policy Center said the risks extend beyond technical challenges. “When you only have one source, it affects not only your energy security but your economic security and regional geopolitical stability,” he explained.
The region is already experiencing the effects of climate change, with accelerating glacier melt and more frequent droughts threatening water supplies - critical for hydropower generation.
Spooner warned that water shortages could quickly translate into energy shortages, particularly in upstream countries, while downstream nations may face growing uncertainty over supply.
At the heart of the issue is a lack of regional coordination. Despite recent improvements in political ties, Central Asia still lacks a fully developed electricity market that would allow countries to share surplus energy. Spooner said building such a system is essential.
“If one country has excess power and another is facing shortages, there needs to be a mechanism to balance that,” he said.
He pointed to improving relations between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan as a positive sign, suggesting that stronger cooperation between the region’s largest economies could help drive broader solutions.
However, he stressed that more needs to be done, particularly in managing shared water resources - often a sensitive issue between upstream and downstream states.
The report also raises concerns about ageing infrastructure. Much of the region’s energy system, particularly hydrocarbon-based generation, is outdated and in urgent need of modernisation. Spooner said external partners such as the European Union and China could play a key role by providing investment and technical support.
Water scarcity, he added, remains a potential flashpoint. “It is a very precious resource, and without serious cooperation it could become a source of tension,” he said, pointing to countries such as Kazakhstan that depend heavily on water flows from neighbours and from China.
While there are signs of improving regional dialogue compared with a decade ago, Spooner warned that time is limited.
As climate pressures intensify, Central Asian countries will need to act quickly to strengthen cooperation, modernise infrastructure and diversify their energy systems to avoid deeper economic and security challenges.
Türkiye and Azerbaijan signed defence agreements worth more than $500 million, including a deal for 14 Turkish-built Hürkuş-II trainer a...
British counter-terrorism police have arrested a 27-year-old dual UK-Iranian national as part of an investigation into a suspected plot involving R...
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and AMD CEO Lisa Su have joined the advisory board of Tsinghua University’s School of Economics and Management (SEM),...
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused the U.S. and Israel of seeking to foment internal divisions in Iran after failing to defeat the country militarily, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel may participate in the investigation into a serious incident aboard a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, while investigators examine the motive of the co-pilot involved.
Passengers restrained a flydubai co-pilot who allegedly stabbed the pilot and tried to crash a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 30 September 2026. These are the top five stories making headlines in Europe.
North Korea has dismissed as a “farce” Seoul’s claim that Pyongyang was responsible for a landmine explosion south of the Military Demarcation Line that injured three South Korean soldiers.
Türkiye’s COP31 presidency has unveiled an action agenda designed to turn climate commitments into concrete projects and measurable results, focusing on clean energy, waste reduction, resilient cities and industrial decarbonisation.
Greenland and Antarctica have shed a combined 11.3 trillion tonnes of ice since 1979, according to the most comprehensive satellite study of the planet's ice sheets to date, with researchers warning the pace of loss has accelerated sharply in recent decades.
The European Union will continue allowing large-scale plastic waste exports to Türkiye despite concerns over recycling rates, environmental damage and the risk of illegal waste trafficking.
Hundreds of thousands of deep-diving turtles, known as olive ridley sea turtles, have arrived on Mexico’s southern coast for one of nature’s most striking nesting events. But conservation officials warn that climate change is making it increasingly difficult for their eggs to hatch.
August 2026 tied as the hottest month ever recorded globally, pushing average temperatures above the critical 1.5°C threshold as extreme weather swept across several regions, the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment