Abstract

The resource-sharing mechanism, which ensured sufficiency and reliability of energy supplies within the Central Asian energy system (CAES) collapsed soon after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Isolationist energy policies, both in terms of full self-reliance and self-control, without the establishment of self-sustaining independent energy systems, not only threatened security of energy supplies, but also, to a different extent, hampered the socio-economic development in Central Asia. In an attempt to mitigate the negative impact of the new energy policies, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) supported Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) was introduced as one of the key programs to ensure sustainable access of the population and economies to energy. One of the top priority areas has been strengthening regional cooperative dynamics in the energy sector. Primarily focusing on regional cooperation CAREC attempts to solve the problem of uneven distribution and seasonal variation of energy production in the region, assuming that this would lead to better standards of life and economic growth. This article aims to analyze the extent of contribution of CAREC energy initiatives to improve energy security and promote energy–led economic growth in Central Asia through regional energy projects.

Highlights

  • The Central Asian energy system (CAES) was designed and built during the Soviet period, when political/administrative borders and sovereignty issue were not an obstacle to ensure parallel operation of the national energy sectors

  • This article provides the analysis of the effectiveness of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) regional-level energy governance mechanism promoted, which among a number of key functions, prioritizes improving energy security through regional cooperation in Central Asia, and identifies major obstacles towards promoting intra-Central Asian energy cooperation

  • CAREC prioritizes strengthening regional cooperation as a means to promote energy-led socio-economic development; most of the projects are local in nature

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Summary

Introduction

The CAES was designed and built during the Soviet period, when political/administrative borders and sovereignty issue were not an obstacle to ensure parallel operation of the national energy sectors. Having experienced energy insecurity due to decreasing intra-Central Asian cooperation in the energy sector, regional state actors are in need of reinstating energy trade and coordinated operation of energy systems. International financial institutions, NGOs, private and state energy companies as well as research institutions have, to certain extents, successfully engaged in the development of the Central Asian energy sectors and provided security for the CAES through several regional energy programs and initiatives (governance innovations), the ADB promoted the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) [1]. This article provides the analysis of the effectiveness of the CAREC regional-level energy governance mechanism promoted, which among a number of key functions, prioritizes improving energy security through regional cooperation in Central Asia, and identifies major obstacles towards promoting intra-Central Asian energy cooperation

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