Electricity consumption in Kyrgyzstan continues to rise. In 2025, the country consumed 19.3 billion kWh, an increase of 900 million kWh compared to the previous year. Of this total, 15.4 billion kWh was generated domestically, while 3.9 billion kWh was imported from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia, officials reported at a government meeting on 14 January.
Authorities also highlighted critically low water levels at the Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Plant, the country’s largest energy facility, which generates approximately 40% of its electricity. The Toktogul reservoir currently holds 9.102 billion cubic meters of water, a drop of 1.631 billion cubic meters compared to the same date in 2024.
The reservoir is approaching the critical or “dead” level of 5.5 billion cubic meters, below which the plant would be unable to generate electricity. Officials at the meeting warned that continued low inflows could force a reduction in power generation and stressed the importance of adhering strictly to electricity consumption limits.
Kyrgyzstan has long struggled with seasonal electricity shortages, particularly in winter, when many households rely on electric heating. Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibraev previously cautioned that the 2025–2026 winter season could be one of the most difficult in recent years due to the water shortfall at Toktogul.
To address the electricity deficit, Kyrgyzstan is pressing ahead with both the construction of new hydropower projects and the modernization of existing facilities.
In November 2025, the country completed a full modernization of Toktogul, located on the Naryn River. The upgrade increased the plant’s capacity from 1,200 MW to 1,440 MW.
Kyrgyzstan is also moving forward with the construction of the Kambarata-1 hydropower plant, a strategic regional project being developed in partnership with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Once completed, Kambarata-1 is expected to have a capacity of 1,860 MW and produce 5.6 billion kWh annually.
