The “middle path” for Central Asia’s energy transition is a balanced, step-by-step strategy that avoids extreme environmental or conservative approaches. According to the authors of the newly released report, this pragmatic framework focuses on updating existing power plants while gradually rolling out renewable energy and storage technologies to ensure the region’s power supply remains both reliable and affordable.
“The proposed “middle path” strategy is based on a pragmatic combination of modernizing traditional generation, phased development of RE sources, introduction of energy storage systems and digitalization, as well as restoration of regional integration of energy systems to balance seasonal and resource differences.” The report adds that this “evolutionary” scenario allows countries to “modernize their existing energy sector, making the most of their current infrastructure, while simultaneously laying the foundations for a future low-carbon system.”
This approach suggests that instead of immediately shutting down older coal and gas plants, which currently provide cheap power and heat, the region should upgrade them to run more efficiently. At the same time, governments should start building wind and solar farms paired with large batteries to handle the natural shifts in wind and sunshine. Crucially, the strategy calls for neighboring countries to reconnect their energy networks and share resources, which helps prevent blackouts during harsh winters when demand is high and local power production might struggle.
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.
