Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan all experienced power outages on August 14 after a sudden change in electricity flows across the interconnected Central Asian power grid. 

The Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company (KEGOC) was reported by Azattyk as stating that Kazakh electricity consumers were left without power due to the shutdown of two hydroelectric power generators at Kyrgyzstan’s key hydropower plat Toktogul. This led to an overload on the North-East-South transit line of the Unified Energy System of Kazakhstan, and the separation of the Southern Zone and the Unified Energy System of Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan) from this system, the utility was further cited as saying.

KEGOC added that power supply to the impacted Kazakh regions had been restored and that a special commission would investigate the causes of the disruption.

Uzbekistan’s energy ministry said that blackouts were caused by disruptions in a neighbouring country's power grid, but did not name the country in question.

Azattyk said authorities in Kyrgyzstan stated that the Unified Energy System of Central Asia had become an isolated power hub "due to the shutdown of a high-voltage line in Kazakhstan". Astana, in turn, reportedly stated that the information about difficulties with Kazakhstan's energy system was not correct.

Power cuts were reported in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city and commercial capital, and the wider Almaty Region. Local reports said that a Kanye West concert scheduled to take place in Almaty on the evening of August 14 had been shifted to August 15, with “safety concerns” cited. The city was also enduring heavy downpours.

Another outage was reported in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Tajik local media reported outages in Dushanbe and Khujand, while authorities in Uzbekistan said some southern areas experienced power cuts, particularly locations near the Tajik border.

Almaty residents on social media complained of broken traffic lights, traffic jams, communication outages and a metro shutdown. There were also some reports of water shortages, possibly due to power outages at pumping stations.

The four affected countries operate interconnected electricity systems, meaning disruptions in one part of the regional network can affect neighbouring power systems.

Central Asian countries face recurring electricity shortages, with the expansion of generation capacity often not keeping up with rising demand linked to economic growth.

Hydropower is dominant in power generation in mountainous Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Water availability has become an increasing concern as climate change affects river flows and reservoir levels, creating additional pressure on hydroelectric power generation.