Kyrgyzstan Features - The Times Of Central Asia

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COP30

From Glaciers to Green Goals: Central Asia at COP30

The UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, concluded with a hard-fought global deal that boosts climate finance for developing countries but avoids any promise to phase out fossil fuels. Amid this uneasy compromise, the Central Asian nations worked to get their priorities heard. Their delegations pressed for more climate funding, recognition of their unique vulnerabilities, and support for regional initiatives, with mixed results. A United Regional Voice on Climate Home to over 80 million people, Central Asia entered COP30 with a goal outlined as “five countries, one voice,” after a regional dialogue in Dushanbe ahead of the summit forged a common stance on shared threats such as melting glaciers and water stress. The region has already warmed about 2.2 °C – faster than the global average – and glaciers are shrinking by roughly 0.5% each year, Uzbekistan’s environment minister Aziz Abdukhakimov warned in Belém. He noted worsening land degradation and vanishing water resources, underscoring Central Asia’s acute climate vulnerability. In response, Uzbekistan unveiled a new pledge to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2035 (from 2010 levels) by expanding renewable energy and forests. Such actions align with COP30’s call for developed nations to triple adaptation finance by 2035 to help vulnerable countries cope. “COP30 showed that climate cooperation is alive and kicking, keeping humanity in the fight for a livable planet,” UN climate chief Simon Stiell said in his closing speech, praising delegates for persisting despite global divisions. National Commitments and Initiatives Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s largest economy and emitter, took on a visible role at COP30. Its delegation was led by Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nyssanbayev, who addressed the summit’s opening session. Nyssanbayev reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to the Paris Agreement goals, noting the country has adopted a “Revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and a National Adaptation Plan” with more ambitious targets to cut emissions and bolster resilience. “It is crucial for us to consistently work toward achieving our climate goals,” he stated. Nyssanbayev emphasized the importance of climate finance for developing countries, highlighting the new “Baku–Belém Roadmap” to mobilize $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 and urging support for a significantly increased funding mechanism. Kazakhstan also became one of only seven nations – and the sole Central Asian country – to sign a joint declaration pledging “near zero” methane emissions from its fossil fuel sector. In a sign of ongoing regional leadership, Nyssanbayev invited all delegates to attend a Central Asia Regional Environmental Summit that Kazakhstan will host in 2026, aiming to sustain climate cooperation beyond COP30. Kyrgyzstan, given its geography, used the summit to champion the mountain agenda and the plight of high-altitude communities on the frontlines of climate change. The Kyrgyz Republic chairs the UNFCCC’s Mountain Group and sent a delegation led by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Edil Baisalov, and Dinara Kemelova, the President’s Special Representative for the Mountain Agenda. In the first week of COP30, Kemelova delivered keynote remarks at multiple high-level sessions, calling for strengthened international support and...

Unrest

Chinese-Kyrgyz Tensions Flare After Brawl at Construction Site

A roadside quarrel between Kyrgyz and Chinese workers in northern Kyrgyzstan escalated into a mass brawl, exposing simmering anti-Chinese sentiment in the Central Asian country. The fight broke out on November 15 in the village of Konstantinovka, Chui province, after a dispute over which truck had the right of way on a narrow road. Dozens of construction workers from both sides were involved. Police detained 16 people and brought in another 44 – including several Chinese nationals – for questioning. One Kyrgyz worker was hospitalized with head injuries, suffering a concussion and multiple bruises. Authorities quickly launched an investigation into the incident, and officials urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified rumors about the clash. The altercation reportedly involved drivers from two road construction companies – the state-owned China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and a local subcontractor, Zhongzi, with what began as a minor traffic argument at a quarry site spiraling into physical violence. Videos of police detaining the brawlers later surfaced online, igniting a broader outcry. The timing of the fracas raised alarms in Bishkek, coming just two weeks before Kyrgyzstan’s scheduled November 30 parliamentary elections and only days ahead of an official visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on November 19. The authorities have moved to contain the fallout from the brawl before it can inflame any further anti-Chinese backlash. Election Provocation Claims President Sadyr Japarov was quick to downplay the confrontation and warn against politicizing it. Speaking to the state news agency Kabar, Japarov argued that such scuffles, while unfortunate, should not be blown out of proportion or framed as an international issue. “Anything can happen in life. In Bishkek, two Kyrgyz can quarrel and fight on the street - we see this on social media. But such everyday conflicts should not be elevated to the level of interstate problems,” Japarov said. “We know who they are. For now, we are just watching. If they cross the line, they will be arrested. And then they’ll start shouting that they were ‘detained for no reason.’ They have no other topics - only electricity and the Chinese.” Other officials echoed Japarov’s call for calm, with Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev dismissing claims that Chinese laborers are “flooding” Kyrgyzstan and stealing local jobs. “Chinese citizens are working on the basis of work visas. We have a visa regime. When their visa expires, they leave,” Kulubaev said, urging the public not to exaggerate the issue. Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baysalov posted on social media that "such provocations do not arise on their own. Their goal is to weaken and possibly derail the country's economic strengthening, undermine our growing international authority, and ultimately strike a blow to Kyrgyzstan's statehood itself." Daiyrbek Orunbekov, a spokesman from the president’s office, similarly wrote on Facebook that “conflicts happen wherever there are people – it doesn’t depend on ethnicity or race,” pointing out that over 1.5 million Kyrgyz citizens work abroad and sometimes get into fights as well. “Don’t be misled by provocateurs,” Orunbekov cautioned, suggesting the brawl was being exploited by...

Economy

Kyrgyz Authorities Tighten Control Over Meat Prices

Temporary state regulation of meat prices has been in effect in Kyrgyzstan for several months. Inspectors fine sellers who exceed the permissible price caps. The first violation typically results in a warning. The Ministry of Economy and Commerce recently extended the regulation. The price controls were due to expire last week, but officials argue that without oversight, rising meat prices could trigger an increase in the cost of other goods and the broader consumer basket. In Bishkek, the government has set maximum retail prices at $7.50 per kilogram for lamb and $7.70 for beef. Price caps in the regions are slightly lower. According to sellers, rising prices are driven not by profit motives but by external pressures, prolonged drought, higher fuel prices, increased transportation costs, and a surge in meat exports, especially to Uzbekistan. “Meat is indeed becoming more expensive, mainly because it is being exported abroad. We need to provide for ourselves first. When we sell at state-set prices, it becomes unprofitable, we operate at a loss. We still have to pay rent, electricity, patent fees, security, and water,” said Mirlan Tursunaliyev, a meat seller in Bishkek, speaking to The Times of Central Asia. He added that vendors hope the price caps will be revised to better reflect their operational costs. Officials from the Antimonopoly Regulation Service note that some sellers are unwilling to comply with legal requirements such as submitting documents, updating price tags, or paying fines. In some cases, enforcement raids are carried out jointly with police. According to the agency, meat prices in Kyrgyzstan typically rise between May and September. Authorities expect demand to decline toward the end of the year, as is customary in winter. A seasonal drop in demand could also bring down production costs.

Electricity Supply

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan Brace for Winter Power Shortages

As winter approaches, Kyrgyzstan is warning of potential electricity shortfalls due to critically low water levels in its hydro-reservoirs, and authorities are rolling out emergency measures. These include urging electricity conservation, shutting down all cryptocurrency mining farms to relieve grid pressure, increasing electricity imports, and accelerating repairs and upgrades to aging power-generation infrastructure. Officials with the Ministry of Energy and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic say the reserves in key hydropower reservoirs are at their lowest level in more than a decade. At the same time, demand for electricity in homes and businesses is forecast to increase significantly this winter because of colder temperatures. The gap between supply and demand has forced the government to ask households to reduce electricity use during peak hours. Historically, Kyrgyzstan has relied heavily on hydropower. The country’s flagship facility, the Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Station, supplies roughly 40% of the nation's electricity. But its reservoirs are fed primarily by spring and summer snowmelt. In recent years, melting snow has arrived earlier and run-off has fallen, shrinking water levels. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Kyrgyzstan’s hydroelectric system faces serious seasonal variability in its generational capacity. This winter’s challenge is compounded by weak output from thermal plants and delayed maintenance. The government reports that the ageing coal-fired and gas-fired plants in the north and south of the country require urgent repairs, with rehabilitating the plant in Bishkek alone set to cost around $150 million. With limited funds, several units will remain offline during the cold months. The immediate consequences for households are already appearing. Residents in Bishkek and surrounding regions have reported recurrent evening outages sometimes lasting a few hours. Landlord-run apartment blocks plan to brief residents about schedules for rotating cuts. In smaller towns and villages, citizens fear longer blackouts if the cold deepens. Businesses are also feeling the shock. Small-scale manufacturers report that they have had to halt production during scheduled cuts, eroding profits and increasing costs. Schools and hospitals say they are depending on standby generators. Energy stability plays a central role in Kyrgyzstan’s economy and social well-being. Without reliable power, business productivity falls, heating systems malfunction, and social discontent can spike. In recent years, protests over energy prices and outages have forced the government to scramble for solutions. The current measures are aimed not only at keeping the lights on but maintaining public confidence ahead of looming parliamentary elections. Regionally, Kyrgyzstan’s electricity system interacts with its neighbors. The country imports power from Kazakhstan and exchanges electricity with Uzbekistan, with cross-border feeds from Kazakhstan helping to cover shortages. This winter, Kazakhstan’s own constraints may limit exports, leaving Kyrgyzstan more exposed. Meanwhile, China has offered investment in hydropower expansion as part of regional cooperation. That deal may eventually increase supply, but it will not help in the short term. Meanwhile, neighboring Tajikistan is grappling with comparable winter electricity pressures. The country sources about 95% of its electricity from hydropower and enters the cold season with low reservoir and river flows that sharply...

Electricity

Energy-Saving Measures Introduced in Kyrgyzstan: Who Will Be Affected?

Kyrgyzstan's Cabinet of Ministers has implemented a series of measures aimed at improving energy efficiency and ensuring the rational use of electricity. The move comes amid an electricity shortage caused by persistently low water levels in the country’s main reservoirs. What’s Happening? Officials have reported a record surge in electricity consumption this year, coupled with a continuing regional drought. In response, the government has ordered a restriction on indoor and outdoor lighting between 6p.m. and 6a.m. However, the Cabinet emphasized that the new measures will not apply to strategic facilities, 24-hour operations, or institutions responsible for defense, security, health care, social services, or other critical public functions. “These measures do not affect processes essential to the technological operation of buildings,” stated the government’s press service. According to official estimates, the restrictions could save approximately 40 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per month. This year, Kyrgyzstan has already recorded electricity consumption that exceeds last year’s figures by 1 billion kilowatt-hours. The government attributes the increased demand to the launch of new industrial enterprises, the expansion of social and educational institutions, and ongoing residential construction. The situation is further worsened by declining water inflow to the Naryn River, which feeds the Toktogul Reservoir and its namesake hydroelectric plant. The reservoir's water level is currently 2 billion cubic meters lower than it was during the same period last year. “The Cabinet’s primary objective is to ensure rational water use in the Toktogul Reservoir and reduce the load on the energy system,” the government said. The goal is to prevent the reservoir from reaching a critical low. Who Will Be Responsible? The Ministry of Energy has mandated that all government agencies and state-owned entities switch off power in the evenings and at night once staff have left their workplaces. Heads of municipal bodies and public institutions will bear personal responsibility for any violations of the new regulations. How Are Residents Responding? For now, residents in the private sector report that little has changed. However, there are growing concerns that household power limits may soon be tightened. “They say our electricity consumption will be restricted. It used to be capped at 5 kilowatts at a time, but now they’re talking about reducing it to 3. That would make things much harder, especially if it’s a cold winter,” said Alexander Verkholantsev, a resident of central Bishkek, who spoke with The Times of Central Asia. Authorities have already announced that electricity restrictions for residential consumers during peak hours will be in place from October 2025 through March 2026. Despite this, many households still exceed the 3-kilowatt threshold.

Waste-to-Energy Plant

Green Power Pivot: Bishkek Debuts Waste-to-Energy Plant

On November 14, Bishkek’s newly constructed waste-to-energy plant received its first pilot batch of municipal solid waste, marking a major milestone in Kyrgyzstan’s efforts to modernize waste management and expand sustainable energy infrastructure. According to the Bishkek municipality, 17 garbage trucks delivered 126 tons of solid waste to the facility. Once the accumulated volume reaches 1,000 tons, the incineration process will begin, generating electricity from waste. The pilot delivery was attended by Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision Meder Mashiev and Bishkek Mayor Aibek Junushaliev, underscoring the project's national significance as Kyrgyzstan’s first major waste recycling initiative. Located at Bishkek’s primary landfill site, the plant was constructed by China’s Hunan Junxin Environmental Protection Co. Ltd. In its initial phase, the facility is expected to process 1,000 tons of waste daily, with plans to scale capacity up to 3,000 tons per day. Total investment in the project stands at $95 million. The official inauguration is scheduled for December 26, 2025. The project represents a critical step in addressing the capital’s growing waste management challenges while advancing Kyrgyzstan’s clean energy goals. Solid waste disposal has become increasingly urgent, particularly in Bishkek, the country's largest city. According to the 24.kg news agency, Kyrgyzstan collected 1.792 million tons of solid waste nationwide in 2023, up from 1.177 million tons in 2019, equating to approximately 279 kilograms per capita annually. Bishkek’s sanitary landfill alone receives about 200 tons of waste per day from the city and its surrounding areas, according to landfill director Nurlan Jumaliev. In June, Hunan Junxin also began constructing a similar waste-to-energy facility in Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s second-largest city. That plant will produce both electricity and heat from incinerated waste. The company is expanding its presence in Central Asia. In August, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources announced that Hunan Junxin will build the country’s first waste-to-energy plant in Almaty.