At the Turkmenistan Investment Forum (TIF 2026) in Ashgabat, Minister of Energy Annageldi Saparov presented an extensive strategy to modernize the national grid and expand regional power exports. Currently, the republic's 12 power plants boast a combined installed capacity of nearly 7,000 MW, fully covering domestic demand while driving growing electricity exports, Orient.tm reports.
As part of its energy transition, Ashgabat has initiated construction of a 1,574 MW combined-cycle power plant on the Caspian coast to supply electricity across the Caspian Sea to the Caucasus and Turkey. Simultaneously, a 10 MW hybrid solar-wind power plant is under construction in the Balkan Region.
Nationally, Turkmenistan has completed its domestic segment of the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan (TAP) transmission line and finalized a unified national power ring with support from the Asian Development Bank.
The strategy presented at TIF 2026 signals a shift in Turkmenistan's energy diplomacy: transitioning from a raw natural gas exporter to a supplier of high-value electricity. Establishing a unified, ringed national grid alongside efficient combined-cycle plants reduces domestic fuel consumption, freeing up raw natural gas for high-yield export contracts.
Crucially, these infrastructure developments help mitigate the region's geographical isolation. Trans-Caspian power transmission routes toward the Caucasus, paired with the Trans-Afghan TAP transmission line, position Ashgabat as a pivotal energy hub bridging South Asia and the South Caucasus.
Engaging European and Asian investors for grid digitalization reduces technical risks while reinforcing Turkmenistan's role as a key player in regional energy security.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
October 2, 2026