Uzbekistan expands role in Kazakhstan, Afghanistan energy sectors
Tashkent positions itself as regional energy hub through cross-border power pact and infrastructure push into Afghanistan
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (MNTV) — Uzbekistan is moving to cement its role as Central Asia’s emerging energy hub, striking a new electricity deal with Kazakhstan while expanding investments in Afghanistan’s fragile power grid.
The agreement, signed September 7 in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, commits Uzbekistan to supply 900 million kilowatt-hours of electricity to Kazakhstan between March and December 2026.
According to the Times of Central Asia, the pact is part of a broader regional framework that ties water releases from Kyrgyzstan’s Toktogul Reservoir to electricity flows across borders — a delicate balance in a region where upstream and downstream states often clash over resources.
Under the new protocols, Kyrgyzstan will release reservoir water crucial for southern Kazakhstan’s agriculture in return for guaranteed electricity deliveries from both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The countries also finalized transit arrangements allowing Russian power to reach Kyrgyzstan via Kazakhstan’s grid, securing supplies for the mountainous nation.
Kazakhstan’s energy minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov stressed that the agreements include “specific figures, timelines, and prices,” adding that strict compliance would be vital to preventing shortages and maintaining water stability during the next growing season.
At the same time, Uzbekistan is projecting influence further south. In Kabul, officials from Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan recently met with international partners to discuss power sector investment.
Uzbekistan pledged support for new high-voltage transmission lines and substations, scheduled for completion by early 2027, alongside efforts to modernize distribution networks and introduce smart metering.
Analysts say the twin moves — binding Kazakhstan closer through energy trade and helping Afghanistan rebuild its grid — highlight Uzbekistan’s ambition to be seen not just as a consumer but as a convener in the geopolitics of electricity and water.
With climate pressures intensifying, Tashkent is betting that cross-border energy cooperation will elevate its diplomatic standing across Central and South Asia.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
