By Pasha Holding
KHANKENDI, Azerbaijan, July 4. The 17th summit
of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is taking place in
the city of Khankendi. One of the key topics of the meeting is
energy security and the development of 鈥済reen鈥 energy. Tajik
President Emomali Rahmon’s speech drew attention with a proposal to
create a unified regional energy market within the framework of the
President Rahmon noted that Tajikistan supports the
implementation of projects to interconnect the energy systems of
the member countries of the organization. In particular, he
emphasized the significance of the construction of the CASA-1000
power transmission line, which will connect Tajikistan and
Kyrgyzstan with Afghanistan and Pakistan, and also announced the
completion of one of the stages of the project – the launch of the
500 kV Datka-Sugd power transmission line between Kyrgyzstan and
Tajikistan.
“We are interested in the formation of a regional energy market
within the framework of the ECO. In this context, the development
of an energy sustainability strategy for the region is very
relevant. The implementation of such projects will contribute to
increasing the production and export of green energy and, in
general, promoting a green economy,” President Rahmon said.
The creation of a common energy market could be a strategic step
for the ECO countries, given their rich resource base. For example,
Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan have significant oil and
gas reserves, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have hydropower potential,
and Uzbekistan is developing both gas and solar energy.
A special place in this process is occupied by Azerbaijan, which
is implementing large-scale energy projects that unite the regions
and create an infrastructural basis for the formation of a regional
market. The key project is the Trans-Caspian Green Energy Corridor,
implemented by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. It involves
integration with the green routes and interconnectors,
Caspian-Black Sea-Europe and Azerbaijan-Turkey-Europe, creating
opportunities for large-scale and uninterrupted transmission of
renewable energy along the Middle Corridor connecting Asia and
Green energy interconnectors are becoming a key infrastructure
element, ensuring efficient supply of solar and wind energy,
promoting efficient utilization of renewable energy sources, and
ensuring mutual sustainability of the region’s energy systems.
In addition, today, Azerbaijan plays a leading role in ensuring
the energy security of Europe by exporting its own energy resources
and providing transit opportunities for the resources of other
friendly countries. The most effective and attractive routes of
energy supplies from ECO countries to Europe pass through the
territory of Azerbaijan along the line
Azerbaijan-Georgia-T眉rkiye-Europe.
Thus, Tajikistan’s initiative to create a regional energy market
on the ECO platform opens new opportunities for strengthening
energy security, increasing exports of 鈥済reen鈥 energy, promoting a
green economy, and strengthening integration of the countries of
the region. Joint implementation of infrastructure projects,
including with the participation of Azerbaijan as an energy and
transit center, will increase the importance of ECO as a leading
integration organization in Eurasia.