Alageum Electric, the largest transformer producer in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, plans to build an electric transformer manufacturing plant in Kyrgyzstan. The project was discussed on January 29 during a meeting in Kazakhstan between Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Energy, Taalaibek Ibrayev, and the founder of Alageum Electric, Saidulla Kozhabayev.
According to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Energy, Kozhabayev confirmed his readiness to cooperate on the plant’s construction. A memorandum of cooperation has been signed between the Ministry and Alageum Electric, and construction could begin this year.
During his visit, Minister Ibrayev toured Alageum Electric’s production facilities to observe the transformer manufacturing process. Transformers are a critical component of Kyrgyzstan’s aging power distribution grid, which struggles to handle surging electricity consumption during the cold winter months.
Increased reliance on electric heating in winter often overloads grid infrastructure, forcing power distribution companies to switch users to alternative feeders. This results in temporary outages lasting one to two hours. The Ministry of Energy explains that such measures are necessary to prevent critical equipment, such as expensive transformers, from failing.
For example, a 220 kV transformer with a capacity of 250 MW costs $1.5 million and requires 150 days for manufacturing and delivery, followed by one to one and a half months for installation.
Collaboration with Alageum Electric will enable Kyrgyzstan to begin domestic production of much-needed transformers at lower costs while modernizing the country’s power distribution grid. The initiative is expected to improve energy infrastructure resilience and reduce dependency on imported equipment.
