Bishkek (TDI): Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov announced that Kyrgyzstan will meet its domestic electricity needs during the winter months within the next two and a half years, signaling a major step towards energy independence.
This bold statement was made during the inauguration of the Kara-Kul Hydropower Plant (HPP) on Monday. The achievement will be realized with the completion of nearly 40 new hydropower plants and a coal-fired power station at the Kara-Keche deposit.
Japarov highlighted that, in just over two years, Kyrgyzstan will no longer need to import electricity during the winter. “In two and a half years, we will no longer import electricity during winter. We will have enough domestically produced power,” he stated, urging citizens to remain patient as the country navigates the current seasonal shortages.
Kyrgyzstan has historically faced electricity deficits during the winter months, mainly due to its reliance on electric heating. The Toktogul Reservoir, which supplies about 40% of the country’s electricity, is facing dangerously low water levels.
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Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibraev warned that the coming winter could be particularly challenging, citing the critical water level shortages.
In 2024, the country’s electricity consumption reached 18.3 billion kWh, marking an increase of 1.1 billion kWh from the previous year. To bridge the gap, Kyrgyzstan imported 3.6 billion kWh of electricity from neighboring countries, including Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia. However, additional imports have already been secured for the 2025-2026 winter period.
The Kara-Kul HPP, located on the Kara-Suu River in the southern Jalal-Abad region, is a critical part of the country’s push for energy independence. The plant, built at a cost of $25 million, has two generating units with a combined capacity of 18 MW, and is expected to produce 104 million kWh annually. This will contribute approximately 2.5% of the current winter shortfall.
President Japarov emphasized that the Kara-Kul HPP is just one part of Kyrgyzstan’s larger national energy strategy aimed at reducing the country’s reliance on imported electricity.
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One of the most ambitious projects in the pipeline is the construction of the Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant, which will become the largest hydropower plant in both Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia. Once completed, the plant will have an installed capacity of 1,860 MW and is expected to generate 5.6 billion kWh annually.
The Kambarata-1 project is being developed in collaboration with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, with technical and financial support from the European Union (EU). During the Global Gateway Forum held in Brussels on October 9-10, Kyrgyz Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibraev met with regional counterparts and EU institutions to discuss the project.
