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New Energy World
New Energy World embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low carbon technologies.
Central Asia embarks on ambitious renewables drive but fossil fuels still reign
20/3/2024
10 min read
Central Asia’s five countries are mitigating climate change challenges by adopting more efficient water management practices and greener energy technologies. But regional fossil fuel usage remains high, despite all their governments’ stated goals to become carbon neutral (except gas-rich Turkmenistan), writes Naubet Bisenov.
Three of the region’s five countries – Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – are rich in oil and natural gas, so are actively exploiting these deposits, for which demand remains high as trading partners transition to green energy. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are abundant in water resources as they sit on the upper reaches of the region’s two main rivers – the Amu Darya and Syr Darya – and generate extensive hydropower as a result.
What all five countries have in common is their significant potential to harness solar and wind power, however, given above average sunlight hours and strong latent wind speeds. These resources need to be tapped, given economic and population growth within Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan driving up energy demand faster than supply – causing some shortages.
Tajikistan, which mainly depends on hydropower, is a net exporter of power and coal, while Turkmenistan, which sits on the world’s fourth largest gas reserves, is an exporter of power and gas. Kyrgyzstan, heavily dependent on hydropower, imports almost all its oil, gas and petroleum needs. Kazakhstan, the region’s largest energy producer, nonetheless has faced gas and electricity shortages; and Uzbekistan, the second-largest gas producer in the region, has faced shortages of gas, plus oil and power.