Central Asian countries face simultaneous power outages

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan experienced simultaneous power outages on Friday, August 14, 2026, following disruptions to the Central Asian energy grid.

In Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Energy reported that a power surge caused by sudden changes in the regional energy flow triggered emergency control systems, resulting in outages across several regions. The national grid operator, KEGOC, has since restored normal supply, though local companies continue to reconnect consumers gradually. Kazakhstan authorities denied claims that their network was the source of the instability in Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan's Ministry of Energy stated that an incident in a neighboring country's energy system impacted the broader Central Asian grid, causing outages in several provinces, including the Surxondaryo region. While most areas have seen power restored, work continues to fully stabilize the Surxondaryo region.

In Tajikistan, the Ministry of Energy declared an emergency situation within the national energy system. Authorities are working to restore normal operations as quickly as possible.