President Berdimuhamedov Orders Strategic Expansion of Turkmenistan’s Power Grid to Target European and Regional Markets

President Berdimuhamedov directs 2026 energy expansion, focusing on the Kiyanli power plant and transmission lines to Iran, Afghanistan, and Europe.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 7, 2026, 4:59 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Trend

National Energy Strategy and Macroeconomic Objectives

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov has issued a high-level directive to the Turkmen government to prioritize the expansion of the nation's electricity production throughout 2026. This instruction, delivered during a recent Cabinet meeting reviewing the country's macroeconomic performance for the first two months of the year, serves as the cornerstone of the updated National Energy Strategy. The government intends to leverage Turkmenistan's massive natural gas reserves to fuel a new generation of power plants, shifting the nation from a raw material exporter to a primary provider of processed energy. By increasing production capacity beyond domestic peak demand, Ashgabat aims to solidify its fiscal stability through diversified currency inflows from regional electricity markets.

The Kiyanli Combined Cycle Project and Export Ambitions

A central component of the 2026 investment program is the ongoing construction of a 1,574-megawatt combined-cycle power plant located in the village of Kiyanli. This facility is engineered to be a state-of-the-art generation hub that utilizes waste heat to produce additional electricity, significantly increasing efficiency compared to traditional gas-turbine plants. Once operational, the Kiyanli plant is expected to provide the necessary surplus to facilitate power exports across the Caspian Sea. Government officials are currently evaluating technical routes to deliver this energy to the Caucasus, Türkiye, and potentially the European Union, positioning Turkmenistan as a critical alternative energy source for the West.

Strengthening the Iran Turkmenistan Energy Corridor

Turkmenistan is also moving forward with plans to harden its energy infrastructure connections with the Islamic Republic of Iran. A primary project scheduled for 2026 involves the construction of a high-capacity 500/400 kV power transmission line between Mary in Turkmenistan and Mashhad in Iran. Ashgabat currently exports approximately 2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to Iranian markets annually, and this new infrastructure is designed to facilitate even higher volumes. This corridor serves as a vital link in the regional grid, allowing for seasonal energy swaps and ensuring that Turkmenistan remains a dominant player in the Persian Gulf's energy architecture.