Tajikistan has officially reconnected to the Central Asian Unified Power Grid (CAUPG), a milestone that promises to end the winter power rationing that has plagued the nation for years. This development follows the approval of the Draft Strategy for the Expansion of Energy Cooperation up to 2030 at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) energy ministers' meeting in Astana on June 20-21.
The Draft Strategy outlines key areas for energy cooperation among SCO member states, including the development of transit potential for energy resources, diversification of export routes, modernization of traditional energy sources, and the advancement of renewable energy technologies. The strategy also emphasizes the importance of a balanced energy system and increased energy efficiency across the region.
According to the Tajik Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MoEWR), the discussion of this strategy marks Tajikistan's return to the CAUPG. Tajik Energy Minister Daler Juma highlighted that all necessary facilities for reconnection have been operationalized, enhancing the reliability of the regional power system.
The reconnection has been facilitated by a $35mn grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in November 2018, aimed at supporting the integration of Tajikistan's electricity system with that of Uzbekistan. This initiative is expected to boost regional energy trade and efficiency, benefiting all countries connected to the CAUPG by optimizing power use, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing overall energy reliability.
Historically, the CAUPG was a product of the Soviet era, linking Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. However, power exchanges within the grid declined in recent decades, exacerbated by Tajikistan's disconnection from Uzbekistan in 2009. This disconnection led to severe electricity shortages in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, especially during the winter months.
Kazakhstan had previously threatened to leave the unified grid if Tajikistan continued to draw more electricity than allocated. In response, Tajikistan's energy authorities denied these accusations, emphasizing their lack of technical capability to siphon off excess electricity.
Uzbekistan's departure from the grid in December 2009 further strained the system, isolating Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. However, with recent infrastructure improvements, Tajikistan now nearly meets its annual electricity needs independently. The Roghun Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP), a significant addition, is expected to further alleviate regional electricity shortages.
In a statement on December 2, 2021, Sherali Kabir, Tajikistan's Minister of Industry and New Technologies, announced plans to rejoin the CAUPG, noting that restoring the grid's operation must consider global market changes. Uzbekistan's Energy Minister Zhyrabek Mirzamahmudov reaffirmed this plan on May 15, 2024, indicating that Tajikistan would reconnect by the end of the month.
This reintegration is part of a broader regional effort to unify energy systems. On May 1, 2024, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate on energy system unification, focusing on green energy production and export to Europe.
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