The Effects Of The "Belt And Road Initiative" On Central Asia's Energy Security

The challenge of ensuring energy security,defined as the reliability and affordability for Central Asia(Kyrgyzstan as the case study for the purposes of this paper)has remained a challenge since the collapse of the Soviet Union,in particular with regard to electricity provision Due to the legacy of Soviet electricity infrastructure,the Central Asian nations must rely,however unwillingly,on one another to ensure stable electricity for their citizens.This situation has resulted in disputes that disrupt the reliable and affordable provision of electricity.Further complicating matters is the deteriorating infrastructure that the Central Asian countries cannot afford to upgrade or replace.As such,this need for electricity infrastructure and energy security represents an opportunity for China to engage with these nations through the "Silk Road Economic Belt"(SREB)portion of its "Belt and Road Initiative"(BRI),especially as China has the requisite economic capacity,political will and financial institutions to support this initiative.Thus,this paper examines the definition and theory of energy security,past electrification projects in Central Asia that were built and by China and explains what they suggest will be the impact of the SREB on future Central Asian energy security.Ultimately,this paper attempts to prove that China's involvement in the energy security of electricity in Central Asia will result in more autarkic electricity systems in the region,and promotes the stability of bilateral relations within this region and of this region with China...