Microsoft Word - formatted_Roadmap-Energy Connectivity in Central Asia_v1.docx

The report argues that transitioning from national energy self-sufficiency to an integrated regional power system in Central Asia would enhance energy security, lower electricity production costs, and accelerate decarbonization. Modelling indicates that 'Unlimited transmission' could reduce electricity production emissions intensity by approximately 3% and save 1.4 billion USD in annual costs by 2050 compared to self-sufficiency. The document highlights the potential for Kazakhstan to become a hydrogen hub (primarily via 'blue' hydrogen) and for Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to provide baseload hydropower. To achieve this, the report proposes a roadmap integrating technical, political, financial, and organizational considerations.

• An integrated energy system enabling multilateral real-time power trading would provide Central Asian countries with access to a broader variety of renewable and low-carbon energy sources than they could access in isolation, improving regional energy security and grid stability through increased flexibility and redundancy.
• Regional connectivity allows for the strategic use of diverse low-carbon baseload power: Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan can provide flexible baseload power via gas coupled with CCUS, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan can leverage uranium for nuclear energy, and Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan can provide large quantities of baseload hydropower by 2030.
• Modelling shows that an 'Unlimited transmission' scenario would result in electricity production emissions intensity being approximately 3% lower than a 'National energy self-sufficiency' scenario, with annual electricity production cost savings reaching 1.4 billion USD by 2050.
• Kazakhstan is projected to become a major player in the hydrogen market under high-connectivity scenarios; however, steam methane reforming (SMR) with carbon capture and storage (CCS) for 'blue' hydrogen is currently the most cost-effective technology over green hydrogen.
• The 'Unlimited Transmission' scenario identifies significant economically efficient infrastructure additions, including increasing the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan connection from 1718 MW to 7906 MW, and adding 9500 MW to Kazakhstan's North-South connection.
• By 2050, the 'Full Connectivity' scenario suggests Central Asia could eliminate its dependence on energy imports, with Tajikistan potentially exporting 43 TWh to Kyrgyzstan (up from 3 TWh) and Kazakhstan exporting 9 TWh to Uzbekistan (up from 0.5 TWh).

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (n.d.). Microsoft Word - formatted_Roadmap-Energy Connectivity in Central Asia_v1.docx. https://leap.sei.org/documents/UNECECentralAsia2025.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Microsoft Word - formatted_Roadmap-Energy Connectivity in Central Asia_v1.docx. n.d. https://leap.sei.org/documents/UNECECentralAsia2025.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Microsoft Word - formatted_Roadmap-Energy Connectivity in Central Asia_v1.docx |url=https://leap.sei.org/documents/UNECECentralAsia2025.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitutendmicrosoft, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Microsoft Word - formatted\_Roadmap-Energy Connectivity in Central Asia\_v1.docx}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://leap.sei.org/documents/UNECECentralAsia2025.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }