Kyrgyzstan plans to abandon coal imports within the next two years and stop buying foreign electricity by 2027.
Speaking at a parliamentary group meeting, Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibraev announced that the country is already preparing to meet these challenges by actively developing the energy sector’s infrastructure.
Ibraev emphasized that the problem with transformers, which was relevant earlier, will be solved next year. Repairs have already been carried out in all 56 RECs (district electric networks), and five spare transformers have been provided for each of them in case of emergencies.
A tender has also been held for purchasing one thousand transformers worth $58 million, of which $25 million are loan funds, $25 million is a World Bank grant, and $8 million is a Swiss grant. In addition, 600 thousand new meters are planned to be purchased. These measures will significantly improve the reliability of the country’s electricity supply.
The minister also noted that the country’s generating capacity deficit is 300 to 400 megawatts. To solve this problem, solar power plants will be launched, allowing the country to scale down electricity imports.
In addition, Ibraev announced plans to refuse coal imports in the next two years. The country is developing projects to introduce alternative energy sources and ensure energy independence.
Problems with transformers in Kyrgyzstan have been acute over the past few years due to worn-out energy infrastructure and equipment shortages. Many transformer stations needed modernization, resulting in power supply failures. The government initiated large-scale transformer replacement and repair projects in response to these challenges.
