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At Start of Winter Freeze, Kyrgyzstan’s Electricity Demand Hits Record High

Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Energy reported a record-breaking electricity consumption of 3,612 MW on December 12, with daily usage reaching 78.931 million kWh, the highest in the country’s history. The rise in electricity usage is attributed to low temperatures across the country, as residents rely heavily on electric heating. This figure surpasses the previous record set on December 14, 2022, when electricity consumption reached 3,401 MW or 73.370 million kWh. According to the Ministry, the surge in consumption has overloaded grid equipment in certain areas. To prevent failures, power distribution companies are switching users to alternative feeders, causing temporary outages of one to two hours. Without such measures, critical equipment could fail. 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. To alleviate this strain, the Ministry has called on citizens to conserve electricity wherever possible. The Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP), Kyrgyzstan’s largest, is currently operating at its maximum generating capacity of 1,260 MW, with a daily output of 27.528 million kWh. Located on the Naryn River, the plant supplies approximately 40 percent of the country’s electricity. The Toktogul reservoir began the winter season with a water volume of 13.257 billion cubic meters, 1.5 billion more than the previous year. However, due to the recent surge in electricity usage, more than 1 billion cubic meters of this surplus have already been consumed. As of December 12, the reservoir held 12.234 billion cubic meters of water. The Ministry of Energy warns that if current consumption levels persist, the reservoir could drop to 6.2 billion cubic meters by April 1, 2025 — close to the critical or “dead” level of 5.5 billion cubic meters, at which point the plant would no longer be able to generate electricity. The Ministry continues to urge the public to use electricity sparingly to avoid this outcome.

Finance Energy Export/Import Rogun HPP hydroelectric economic

Kazakhstan to Begin Purchasing Electricity from Rogun HPP

Kazakhstan has announced plans to purchase electricity from Tajikistan’s Rogun hydropower plant (HPP), a major facility currently under construction. According to a draft agreement published on Tajikistan's official legal information portal, the cooperation between the two countries is set to last for 20 years, with an option to extend for an additional 10 years. The price for the electricity is set at $0.034 per kilowatt-hour (excluding VAT), plus a transit surcharge determined by the seller’s costs. Payments are to be made within 35 days for each supply period. The supply will only occur during scheduled shortages and will be integrated into KEGOC’s national grid. Rogun HPP will handle transportation to the border, while the Settlement and Financial Center for Renewable Energy Support LLP will oversee control on the Kazakh side. Any disputes arising from the agreement will be resolved through the Singapore International Arbitration Center. Electricity agreements with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are a critical component for securing international financing for the Rogun HPP’s construction. Project costs have risen to $6.4 billion, according to recent estimates. To cover these costs, the Tajik government is negotiating semi-concessional loans worth $1.73 billion, $850 million in grants, and $390 million in concessional loans. The remainder will come from the government budget and revenues generated by the plant. This year, the Tajik government allocated 5 billion somoni (approximately $460 million) for the Rogun project, with 2.8 billion somoni coming from the state budget and 2.2 billion somoni from investment projects. By the end of September 2024, 4.3 billion somoni (about $395 million) had already been spent on construction. Once completed, Rogun HPP will become the largest hydropower facility in Central Asia, boasting a capacity of 3,600 MW and capable of producing up to 17 billion kWh of electricity annually. This output represents 65–85% of Tajikistan’s total electricity production. The plant will house six units of 600 MW each, with full commissioning expected by 2029. Currently, two units are operating at low capacity, having been commissioned in 2018 and 2019. The project serves as a landmark achievement for Tajikistan’s energy sector and a key driver of regional energy cooperation, promoting economic stability and resource-sharing throughout Central Asia.

Energy Security hydroelectric HPP Kambarata Energy Economy

How Kyrgyz Authorities Are Fighting Energy Shortages

Despite the launch of the construction of the Kambarata-1 hydroelectric power plant, Kyrgyzstan needs more electricity. One solution could be to launch small hydropower plants. Officials said building such plants on the country's numerous rivers is not costly. According to the Kyrgyz Energy Ministry, commissioning such HPPs could take only 1.5-2 years. There are currently 24 small hydropower plants in operation in the country, and there is potential for more than 80 more. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, Kyrgyz Deputy Energy Minister Nurlan Sadykov said that every citizen has the opportunity to build a small hydropower plant. Startup permits can be obtained quite easily. “We have a Green Energy Fund, which is authorized to issue land for small-scale energy needs, including the construction of solar panels and wind farms. This body holds a competition where anyone can participate equally, whether a Kyrgyz citizen or a foreign investor. The main thing is to confirm your financial capabilities,” Sadykov said. Sadykov said most investors borrow from local or international banks in one way or another. The authorities can guarantee the return of invested funds through electricity tariffs. “A presidential decree has been issued. According to the document, the state is guaranteed to buy electricity. If the investor wants to receive money for generated electricity in foreign currency, the state can provide payments in US dollars,” the deputy minister emphasized. Chinese and Russian companies are interested in building renewable energy sources in Kyrgyzstan. A campaign to raise funds from local businessmen is also underway. It is worth noting that Kyrgyzstan is experiencing an increase in electricity consumption. The country produces about 14 billion kilowatt-hours annually, but consumption, especially in winter, can reach 17 billion kilowatt-hours. To compensate for the missing electricity, the authorities import it from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Energy Economy Industry HPP hydroelectric modernization

Restoration of Kyrgyzstan’s Largest Hydropower Plant Nears Completion

According to Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Energy, the modernization of the country’s largest hydropower plant, Toktogul HPP, which began in March, is now 80% complete. Located on the Naryn River, the Toktogul HPP comprises four hydroelectric units and with a total generating capacity of 1320 MW, provides about 40% of the country’s electricity. The rotor at the hydro unit No. 1 has been assembled and installed and when fully modernized later in 2024, the service life of the Toktogul HPP will increase by 25-30 years, ensuring a reliable and uninterrupted power supply in autumn-winter and increase the power plant’s generating capacity by 60 MW to 1380 MW. In recent years, since Kyrgyzstan has been unable to produce enough electricity to meet the growing demand, electricity has been imported from neighboring countries. In 2023, the volume of imported electricity amounted to 3.2 billion kWh. and Kyrgyz Minister of Energy Taalaibek Ibrayev reported that in the first half of 2024, Kyrgyzstan imported 2.02 billion kWh of electricity, including 909.8 million kWh from Russia and Kazakhstan, 837.5 million kWh from Turkmenistan, and 275.3 million kWh from Uzbekistan. During the first half of this year, Kyrgyzstan produced 7.07 billion kWh of electricity, including 6.2 billion kWh generated by hydroelectric power plants and 870 million kWh by thermal (coal-fired) power plants. In addition to updating its current facilities, the Ministry of Energy has committed to the construction of the Kambarata-1 HPP which destined to become Central Asia's largest hydroelectric power plant, aims to end Kyrgyzstan’s power shortages. Confident in the success of such measures, Chairman of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers, Akylbek Japarov, has announced that Kyrgyzstan will become both energy-sufficient and in a position to begin exporting electricity by 2026.