CAREC Institute Unveils Comprehensive Study on Energy Governance in Central Asia

The CAREC Institute (CI) has released a pivotal research report authored by Mirza Sadaqat Huda, the lead researcher at the Climate Change in Southeast Asia Programme, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. Over the last decade, the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program has significantly advanced regional integration through the development of transnational infrastructures. Key projects, such as the transfer of gas and electricity from Central to South Asia, are crucial for achieving low-carbon energy in the CAREC region and supporting global efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

This study reviews the governance challenges of these transnational projects and offers policy recommendations. It highlights the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) Gas Pipeline and the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (CASA 1000). While these projects offer economic and environmental benefits, they also pose social, environmental, and political challenges.

The paper calls for greater engagement among CAREC policymakers to address these governance issues, ensuring sustainable development and regional stability.