The World Bank has officially approved the large-scale REMIT program, aimed at deep integration of the power systems of Central Asian countries. The 10-year project is designed to transform disparate national grids into a single regional market, Asiaplus.tj reports.
This will allow countries to efficiently exchange resources, leveraging surplus hydropower in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, along with thermal, solar, and wind power capacity in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
$143.2 million in grants and concessional loans have been allocated for the first phase of the program. The main recipients will be Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and the Energy Coordination Center. Financing is provided by the International Development Association and the multilateral CAWEP fund, supported by the European Union, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The investments will be used to expand transmission capacity and implement digital trade management systems.
The need for reform is driven by rapid consumption growth: electricity demand in the region is expected to triple by 2050. Currently, mutual trade covers only 3% of countries' needs, and the share of renewable energy sources does not exceed 4%. The REMIT program aims to radically change this situation by increasing regional trade volumes to 15,000 GWh per year and integrating up to 9 GW of clean energy capacity.
As a result of the project, the capacity of cross-border networks will increase to 16 GW. Strengthening ties between neighbors will create a more resilient energy system, minimize the risk of outages, and reduce the final cost of electricity for households and the industrial sector.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
January 23, 2026