Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com)  – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) continues supporting regional counterparts by conducting an online training. Representatives of working groups, power utilities, ministries, and regulatory bodies of the five Central Asian countries participated in an online workshop in energy market design mechanisms to successfully establish the regional electricity market.

The primary goal of this workshop was to provide participants with a comprehensive introduction to one of the crucial components of the cross-border electricity transactions design such as identification and settlement of deviations. During the workshop key regional stakeholders discussed the functioning of the electricity market and reviewed different market design mechanisms. This helped to start a fruitful discussion on the most appropriate methods for the Central Asia Regional Electricity Market. Workshop participants noted the importance of provided international practice examples on available methods for compensation of deviations. These efforts are important in maintaining a secure, stable, and reliable operation of the interconnected regional transmission system.

USAID began its assistance to establish a Central Asia regional electricity market in 2018 to promote the region’s long-term energy security and economic growth. A regional energy market will serve as a platform for an expanded Central Asia-South Asia regional power market that will deploy the lowest-cost power in support of greater economic and social development. USAID’s long-term objective is to establish an integrated power market that ensures fair and consistent transactions for all Central Asian countries; common standards for performance; fair and non-discriminatory pricing; and access to the power grid.