In 2023, Turkmenistan’s electricity consumption depended almost entirely on fossil fuels: gas accounted for 99.97%, or virtually all electricity consumed. Low-carbon electricity contributed close to none. This leaves substantial scope to diversify electricity supply with clean sources while reducing the climate-changing emissions and air pollution associated with fossil fuels.

Is Electricity Growing in Turkmenistan?

Electricity consumption per person is growing, although modestly. In 2023, it reached a new record of about 4,590 kWh per person, up 79 kWh, or roughly 2%, from the previous record in 2022. Unfortunately, clean electricity has not shared in that progress: low-carbon generation stood at just 1 kWh per person, compared with its historic peak of 186 kWh in 1990—a decline of more than 99%. Growing clean electricity generation alongside consumption should therefore be a priority, including to support future electrification and new electricity-intensive industries.

Suggestions

Turkmenistan can increase low-carbon electricity generation by developing solar power and preparing a nuclear electricity program, complemented by wind where local conditions are suitable. Relevant examples include Pakistan, where solar supplies about a quarter of electricity generation and nuclear about 13%, and the United Arab Emirates, where nuclear supplies a fifth. The sunny US state of Nevada generates more than a third of its electricity from solar, offering another useful reference for solar deployment. For wind, Turkmenistan could study how the US state of Kansas generates almost half its electricity from that source. These regions offer lessons in project delivery, workforce development and grid planning; pairing solar and wind expansion with dependable nuclear generation would help build a larger, cleaner electricity supply.

History

Turkmenistan’s recorded low-carbon electricity history is dominated by hydropower and shows little sustained progress. Annual hydro generation was unchanged from 1986 through 1989, then increased by 0.7 TWh in 1990. After no change in 1991, it fell by the same amount in 1992, reversing that gain. The remaining reported years of the 1990s showed no annual change, as did 2021–2023. These figures describe changes rather than generation levels, but they reveal a disappointing lack of sustained growth in the reported years and underscore the need for a new phase of clean electricity development.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade