The World Bank has approved the Regional Electricity Market Interconnectivity and Trade (REMIT) Program for Central Asia.
The program aims to establish the region’s first regional electricity market, enhancing energy security and affordability, expanding transmission capacity, and laying the foundation for large-scale integration of renewable energy sources into the power systems of Central Asian countries.
In terms of integration, the program will leverage the region’s complementary energy resources, including hydropower in the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, thermal power generation in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as the growing potential of solar and wind energy across all Central Asian countries.
Timeline and Financing for REMIT
The 10-year program will be implemented in three phases, with a total indicative financing of $1.018 billion.
These funds will help finance:
- the design and operationalization of a regional energy market
- strengthening regional transmission capacity,
- introducing digital systems to improve grid reliability,
- enhancing regional institutions and coordination,
- creating direct construction-related jobs as well as highly skilled roles to operate the regional electricity market.
In the first phase of the REMIT program, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, along with the Central Asian Countries’ Coordinating Dispatch Center “Energia,” will receive grants and concessional financing totaling $143.2 million to implement the corresponding program activities.
This amount includes $140 million from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) resources and $3.2 million in grants from the Central Asia Water and Energy Program (CAWEP).
Subsequent phases of the REMIT program will enable scaling up the regional electricity market, strengthening transmission capacity and digitalization of regional infrastructure, and reinforcing cooperation among relevant regional institutions.
REMIT Coordinators
The Central Asian Countries’ Coordinating Dispatch Center “Energia,” authorized to coordinate electricity exchanges among the countries of the region, will be responsible for implementing market and institutional measures.
National transmission companies will carry out grid investments under the REMIT program.
A Regional Steering Committee, comprising energy ministries and implementing agencies from Central Asian countries, will provide overall oversight of the REMIT program implementation.
Expected Outcomes from REMIT Implementation
Over the next decade, the REMIT program is expected to increase electricity trade volumes to at least 15,000 GWh per year — sufficient to meet the annual needs of millions of people across Central Asia.
It will also help more than triple transmission line capacity to 16 GW and enable the integration of up to 9 GW of clean energy capacity into the region’s power systems.
Strengthening regional energy integration will create a more balanced and resilient power system, reduce power outages, and lower energy costs for households and businesses.
In the first phase alone, integration of approximately 900 MW of new clean energy capacity into the grids is anticipated, mobilizing around $700 million in private investments.
According to Najy Benhassine, World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia, by 2050, stronger electricity connectivity and trade could generate up to $15 billion in economic benefits for the region.
Why the Project Is Timely
Electricity demand in Central Asia is growing rapidly and, based on current trends, could triple by 2050. As regional economies expand, populations increase, industries develop, and cities grow, the need for affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy continues to rise steadily.
Electricity trade in Central Asia remains limited, accounting for only about 3% of total electricity demand.
The project will help scale up the integration of solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources into the region’s grids. Renewables currently make up just around 4% of electricity generation, even though the region possesses rich and complementary clean energy resources that remain underutilized. ///nCa, 24 January 2026 (based on World Bank press release)