Decades-old power lines and substations are pushing Central Asia’s energy systems toward a breaking point, creating a significant risk of regional blackouts. According to the authors of the newly released report, nearly 70% of the region’s electricity networks have reached the end of their intended lifespan, leaving the energy supply vulnerable to frequent accidents and massive technical failures.
“The reliability of energy supply in Central Asia is under serious pressure due to aging generation and transmission & distribution (T&D) infrastructure due to historical underfunding,” the report states. It further warns that “Technical losses of electricity in Central Asian grids reach 15–20%, which is 2–3 times higher than the OECD average.”
In simple terms, the physical hardware used to move electricity from power plants to homes is failing. Because the equipment is so old, much of the power is wasted before it ever reaches the customer, which is inefficient and expensive. If these systems are not modernized, even small local accidents or harsh weather could trigger widespread power outages because the current grid is too fragile to handle modern demands or share backup power effectively between neighboring countries.
The report “Power Sector of Central Asia: Modernization and Energy Transition” was published by the Eurasian Development Bank in Almaty in 2026. Authored by a team led by Evgeny Vinokurov, it explores the region’s energy challenges through the lens of the energy trilemma. The study proposes a pragmatic “middle path” to balance energy security, affordability, and sustainability amid a rapidly growing demand and aging infrastructure.
