Turkmenistan Is Building a Massive Power Plant on the Caspian Coast to Export Electricity to the Caucasus and Turkey
At the second session of the Turkmenistan Investment Forum (TIF 2026)—focused on energy connectivity, security, and the development of the industrial and construction sectors—Turkmenistan’s Minister of Energy, Annageldi Saparov, presented a large-scale strategy to modernize the industry and expand export routes. The session was moderated by William Leaf, the OSCE Ambassador to Turkmenistan, and was attended by heads of the ministries of construction, architecture, and industry, as well as international experts from the UN and UNECE and representatives of the foreign business community.
The Minister reported that Turkmenistan’s energy system currently comprises 12 power plants with a total installed capacity of nearly 7,000 megawatts; this fully meets the growing needs of the domestic market while enabling steadily increasing exports abroad.
Despite ranking fourth globally in proven natural gas reserves, the state’s energy diplomacy is firmly focused on the prudent use of resources, the reduction of harmful emissions, and the transition to renewable energy in line with international environmental conventions. In this context, a key project has been the commencement of construction on a new 1,574 MW combined-cycle power plant on the Caspian coast. Launching this facility will not only enhance the reliability of the national grid but also enable the supply of Turkmen electricity across the Caspian Sea to the Caucasus region and Turkey.
Concurrently, the first practical green transformation project is being implemented in Balkan Province: the construction of a 10 MW hybrid solar-wind power plant in the Gyzylarbat District.
The Minister also highlighted the successful completion of the Turkmen section of the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan (TAP) high-voltage power transmission line and the creation of a unified national power grid, achieved through the commissioning of transmission lines and substations along the Akhal–Mary and Balkan–Dashoguz routes—projects financed with the participation of the Asian Development Bank.
Annageldi Saparov reaffirmed the agency's readiness to engage in active negotiations with investors and companies from Europe, Japan, China, and the Republic of Korea regarding the implementation of digital control systems, the enhancement of energy efficiency, and the further diversification of export routes.
