Tajikistan

Tajikistan cuts power after a dry autumn affects hydroelectric plants

The authorities of the Central Asian nation announced this week that Tajikistan had imposed energy restrictions, including on some industrial users. This was due to low water levels in hydroelectric power plants. According to the economy ministry, electricity users representing nearly 20% of Tajikistan GDP will be affected. The majority of streetlights will be turned off and the power supply to public sector institutions will also be shut off after hours. Tajikistan is the poorest successor state of the Soviet Union, with a population nearing 11 million. It faces power shortages almost every year. A particularly warm and dry fall

Mineral Resources

Trump meets Central Asian Presidents in US bid to counter China and Russia Influence

Trump meets Central Asian Presidents in US bid to counter China and Russia Influence

Donald Trump, the U.S. president, will host five leaders from Central Asian countries at the White House this Thursday. The U.S. is seeking to gain influence in the region that has been dominated for decades by Russia but increasingly courted and influenced by China. The talks are taking place as the competition for Central Asia’s mineral resources intensifies. Western nations want to diversify their supply chains and move away from Moscow or Beijing. The U.S., in particular, is seeking new partnerships to secure vital minerals, energy supplies and overland trading routes that circumvent geopolitical competitors. The C5+1 platform, which was

Refined Products

Sources say that the rise in fuel prices in Tajikistan is due to Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries.

India and central Asian countries express joint interest in rare earths exploration

In a statement released after the India-Central Asia Dialogue's fourth meeting in New Delhi, India and five countries from central Asia expressed an interest in exploring rare earths together. The announcement coincides with global alarm about China's decision not to export rare earth alloys and mixtures. This has affected industries from automotives to clean energy and defence. India and central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan as well as Uzbekistan, also asked "relevant authorities" to convene the India-Central Asia Rare Earth Forum sooner than the September meeting. The statement added that the sides agreed to meet again in 2026.

Electric Utilities

United States arrests laser tech salesman for illegal exports to Russia

A previous salesperson for a. producer of laser welding machines was jailed on Monday on. charges that he conspired to avert U.S. export control laws in. order to sell his business's items to a division of the. Russian state nuclear business Rosatom. Sam Bhambhani was charged in an indictment with dealing with. a Russian person who resold laser devices to the Russian. federal government. It alleges they utilized falsified export files to. hide the real end-user of the machines from the U.S. federal government. The indictment was submitted in federal court in Boston. A. attorney for Bhambhani, a resident of

Shoigu says Russia and allies need to step up military exercises in Asia