QAZAQ GREEN.  The Eurasian Development Bank has presented a report on the modernization of Central Asia’s power sector, proposing a balanced energy transition strategy dubbed the “middle path.” The document was released on March 19.

According to EDB projections, electricity consumption in the region will grow by 40% by 2030, while at least 62.8 GW of new capacity will need to be commissioned by 2035. At the same time, more than half of the existing grids and power plants are already worn out and in need of modernization.

Bank experts argue that both extreme approaches — conservative and “green maximalist” — carry serious risks. The first locks in a high carbon footprint and technological stagnation, while the second threatens energy supply reliability and rising tariffs.

The “middle path” envisions the simultaneous development of renewable energy, modernization of conventional power plants, deployment of energy storage, and digitalization of grids. According to EDB calculations, this scenario is 30–45% cheaper than “green maximalism” and reduces the carbon footprint five times compared to the conservative approach.

EDB Chief Economist Evgeny Vinokurov stressed that the region has all the necessary resources: solar zones in southern Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, hydropower potential in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, wind resources along western Kazakhstan and the Caspian coast, as well as substantial reserves of gas and uranium.

To implement the strategy, the Bank identified five key areas of action: modernization of power plants and grids, increasing power system flexibility, tariff and market reforms, integration of renewables into the grid, and regional power system integration across Central Asia.

https://qazaqgreen.com/en/news/kazakhstan/3450/