Mass blackout hits Central Asia
Illustrative photo: blackout (Getty Images)
Power outages hit several Central Asian countries on Friday, August 14. Blackouts were reported in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, according to Azattyq Asia.
What happened in Kazakhstan
In Kazakhstan, the Energy Ministry said the power system experienced a sudden power surge caused by a sharp change in electricity flows from the Central Asian grid.
The disruption triggered automatic emergency protection systems, leaving consumers in Almaty and the surrounding Almaty region without electricity.
The outages affected several districts, including Zhambyl, Balkhash, Enbekshikazakh, Karasai, Shelek, Raiymbek, Uygur, Ili, Kegen, and Talgar.
Residents of Almaty also reported telecommunications disruptions, a metro shutdown, and non-functioning traffic lights. There were also complaints about water supply interruptions.
Outages in neighboring countries
Power outages were also reported in neighboring Tajikistan. Blackouts were recorded in Dushanbe, Kulob, Khujand, Vahdat, Nurek, Hisor, and other cities and districts.
Authorities have not yet identified the official cause of the disruption. The country's Energy Ministry denied reports linking the outage to the shutdown of generating units at the Nurek hydropower plant.
In Uzbekistan, the Energy Ministry reported disruptions in several regions, attributing them to an accident in the power system of a neighboring country.
Uzbekistan's National Electric Grids company said a multi-level emergency protection system had been activated and that electricity supplies were being restored in stages.
Residents of Bishkek and the Issyk-Kul region in Kyrgyzstan also reported power outages. As of publication, authorities had not issued an official statement on an emergency shutdown.
According to Orda.kz, the large-scale blackout on August 14 was linked to the shutdown of two hydroelectric generators at the Toktogul hydropower plant in Kyrgyzstan. The outlet said the incident overloaded Kazakhstan's North-East-South transmission corridor, causing the country's southern power zone to disconnect from both Kazakhstan's unified energy system and the integrated Central Asian power grid.
For reference, the large-scale emergency power outages that hit Georgia on July 24 and 25 became the subject of a criminal investigation under Article 318 of the country's Criminal Code, which covers sabotage. The article provides for liability in cases involving disruption or damage to the operations of state enterprises and other critical facilities if such actions threaten the interests of the state.
