Central Asia: Towards a new era of regional energy and water cooperation

The Central Asia region, which comprises Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, is host to some significant ongoing and planned hydropower developments, including most notably the 3780 MW Rogun scheme in Tajikistan. The planned commissioning of around 10 GW of new hydro over the next decade, predominantly in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, is being driven by various factors, including rising electricity demand, the potential for monetizing exports, and climate change goals. At the same time, water scarcity is particularly acute in Central Asia, exacerbated by severe over-exploitation of the available water resources, and the effects of climate change.