Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have reported widespread power outages after what Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry described as a “sudden change in the flow of electricity” across the Central Asian power grid.
The energy ministries of all four countries, whose electricity networks are interconnected, confirmed the outages and said efforts were under way to restore power supplies.
Reuters journalists reported power cuts in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, and Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
Local media in Tajikistan reported outages in the capital, Dushanbe, as well as in Khujand, the country’s second-largest city.
Authorities in Uzbekistan said some southern areas of the country had also been affected, particularly regions close to the border with Tajikistan.
The authorities have not provided further details on what caused the sudden change in electricity flows or whether any infrastructure was damaged.
Restoration efforts under way
Officials in the four countries said work was continuing to restore electricity supplies across the interconnected networks.
Power shortages are relatively common in Central Asia, where countries have traditionally relied heavily on hydropower. That dependence has created additional challenges as climate change increases pressure on water resources, leaving hydroelectric facilities vulnerable to shortages.
The region’s interconnected electricity system means disruptions in one part of the network can have effects across national borders, highlighting the challenges faced by Central Asian countries in maintaining reliable power supplies.
Source: CNA
