Hydropower - The Times Of Central Asia

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Sergio Gor

U.S. Envoy Gor Meets Rahmon in Tajikistan for Trade, Security Talks

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon met Special Envoy of the President of the United States for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor in Dushanbe on April 28 for talks focused on trade, investment, security, and the next stage of cooperation under the C5+1 framework. Gor also met Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin during the visit. “Just landed in Tajikistan!” Gor wrote on X. “Excellent meeting with Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin in Dushanbe on deepening U.S.-Tajikistan ties. Excited to build a stronger partnership that delivers greater security and prosperity for both our countries.” The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe said Gor’s meetings would continue over the next few days. According to the Tajik president’s press service, the meeting with President Rahmon covered the current state of bilateral relations and prospects for expanding cooperation. Particular attention was given to agreements reached through the C5+1 dialogue, which brings together the United States and the five Central Asian states. Rahmon said Tajikistan is interested in expanding ties with Washington in areas of mutual interest, noting that the United States is among Tajikistan’s top five investment partners. The sides discussed the use of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, known as TIFA, as a tool for developing practical cooperation. The talks pointed to several sectors where Dushanbe hopes to attract greater U.S. involvement. These include hydropower, mining, mineral processing, light industry, food production, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Tajikistan has long promoted its hydropower potential as a basis for regional energy trade and industrial development, while mining and processing are increasingly tied to wider U.S. interest in critical minerals and supply-chain diversification. Digital cooperation also featured, with the two sides identifying artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and the wider digitalization of the economy as promising areas for cooperation. They also discussed the creation of joint ventures to process agricultural products for export and attract investment. The Tajik Foreign Ministry said Muhriddin and Gor discussed political, economic, investment, humanitarian, and security cooperation. It said they also exchanged views on the regional situation, emphasizing stability and the prevention of humanitarian risks. “Particular attention was paid to the need for coordinated efforts in addressing modern challenges and threats, including terrorism, extremism, and drug trafficking,” the ministry said. Security remains a central part of Tajikistan’s relationship with Washington. Tajikistan shares a long border with Afghanistan, where narcotics trafficking, militant activity, and cross-border violence have repeatedly tested Dushanbe’s security forces. Earlier this month, Tajikistan said its security forces killed two alleged drug smugglers from Afghanistan who crossed into the Farkhor district of the Khatlon region. The State Committee for National Security said the group was trying to smuggle 25 kilograms of hashish. The Afghan border has also become a concern for foreign investors. In late 2025, several Chinese workers were killed in attacks launched from Afghan territory, prompting China to urge Tajikistan to strengthen protection for Chinese citizens and businesses. The attacks sharpened attention on Tajikistan’s ability to secure border areas where foreign-backed infrastructure and mining projects are expanding. Cooperation has also extended into health....

Hydropower

Kyrgyzstan Expands Small Hydropower to Tackle Rising Energy Deficit

Kyrgyzstan is accelerating its development of small hydropower plants as it seeks to close a widening electricity gap driven by surging demand and limited domestic generation capacity. On April 20, two new small hydroelectric power plants (HPPs) were commissioned in the country's northern Chui region. The Sokuluk-3 HPP has a capacity of 9.5 MW, while the Tuyuk HPP has a capacity of 5.9 MW. Combined, they are expected to generate between 60 million and 70 million kWh of electricity annually. Speaking at the launch ceremony, President Sadyr Japarov underscored the strategic importance of small-scale hydropower. “Such projects increase the resilience of the energy system and facilitate the gradual reduction of the energy deficit. Today, 48 small hydroelectric power plants with a total capacity of 180 MW are operating in Kyrgyzstan. They play a significant role in strengthening energy independence and reducing dependence on imports,” he said. The government is scaling up efforts in the sector, with 50 small HPPs currently under construction across the country. Of these, 13 are scheduled to be commissioned in 2026. Electricity demand in Kyrgyzstan continues to rise rapidly. In 2025, total consumption reached 19.3 billion kWh, up by 900 million kWh compared to the previous year. Domestic generation accounted for 15.4 billion kWh, while the remaining 3.9 billion kWh was covered through imports from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia. According to Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, Bakyt Torobayev, electricity consumption has grown by more than 25% over the past five years, rising from 15.4 billion kWh in 2020. “If current electricity consumption rates continue, it could reach 25 billion kWh by 2030,” Torobayev said. The surge in demand has been driven by rapid housing construction and the launch of new industrial facilities. With Kyrgyzstan’s population now exceeding 7.4 million, the number of electricity consumers is expanding steadily. Over the past three years alone, 4,192 industrial facilities and 96,975 households have been connected to the national grid, according to the Energy Ministry. Despite the expansion of generation capacity, supply continues to lag behind demand, prompting authorities to prioritize small hydropower as a flexible and scalable solution to improve energy security and reduce reliance on imports.

Hydropower

Chinese Firm to Modernize Historic Hydropower Plant Near Bishkek

Kyrgyzstan’s state-owned Chakan HPP OJSC has signed a contract with China National Heavy Machinery Corporation (CHMC), which will serve as the general contractor for the modernization of the Lebedinovskaya hydroelectric power plant (HPP) on the outskirts of Bishkek. The project forms part of the Ministry of Energy’s broader program to upgrade and rehabilitate hydropower facilities in an effort to reduce the country’s chronic electricity shortages and strengthen energy security. The Lebedinovskaya HPP is the main station of the Alamedin HPP cascade, which comprises eight small hydropower plants located on the Western Big Chui Canal in the Chui region. According to the Ministry of Energy, the modernization will involve replacing key equipment, increasing generating capacity, and extending the plant’s operational lifespan. The project involves increasing the plant’s installed capacity from 7.6 megawatts (MW) to 10 MW and raising annual electricity generation from 37.2 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) to 53.5 million kWh. CHMC has already begun preparing the design and cost-estimate documentation. Lebedinovskaya HPP is one of the oldest operating hydropower plants in northern Kyrgyzstan. Construction began in May 1942, during World War II. Much of the main construction work was carried out during a harsh winter, when more than 7,000 women and children reportedly excavated frozen soil by hand, transported it across the ice, and stood in icy water to pump out up to 200 cubic meters of groundwater daily to protect the plant’s foundation. Construction was completed in one year and two weeks. In 1943, the city of Frunze, now Bishkek, began receiving electricity from the plant. The additional power enabled factories evacuated from western parts of the Soviet Union during the war to resume operations at their new location.

Hydropower

The Number of Small Hydropower Plants in Kyrgyzstan Has Doubled in Five Years

Over the past five years, the number of small hydropower plants (HPPs) in Kyrgyzstan has more than doubled. The expansion of small-scale hydropower has become a key priority of state energy policy aimed at reducing electricity shortages and strengthening national energy security. During this period, 27 small HPPs were commissioned across the country. As a result, 43 such plants are currently in operation. According to government plans, by the end of 2030, an additional 44 small hydropower facilities are expected to come online, effectively doubling the sector’s current capacity once again. The Ministry of Energy reports that in 2026 alone, 17 new small HPPs are scheduled for construction across all regions of the country, with a combined installed capacity of 1,113.4 megawatts (MW). Earlier, speaking before the country's parliament, the Jogorku Kenesh, Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev stated that 19 additional small HPPs with a total capacity of 203.8 MW are planned for commissioning in 2027. “The electricity shortage is a temporary phenomenon. We are moving toward reducing the gap between electricity consumption and production,” he said. The projected capacity figures suggest a sharp increase in generation potential. However, the announced 1,113.4 MW capacity for 17 small HPPs in 2026 appears unusually high for facilities categorized as “small” and may require clarification, as small hydropower plants typically operate at significantly lower individual capacities. According to the Water Resources Service, Kyrgyzstan’s total hydropower potential is estimated at 174 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), with an overall capacity of 19.8 million kilowatts (19.8 gigawatts). This indicates that a substantial share of the country’s river-based energy potential remains undeveloped, creating room for further expansion of small-scale hydropower infrastructure. Given Kyrgyzstan’s mountainous terrain and extensive river network, hydropower remains the backbone of its electricity generation system. The government views small HPPs as a faster and less capital-intensive complement to large hydropower stations, particularly in remote regions.

Hydropower

Kazakhstan Intends to Triple Its Hydropower Capacity by 2030

Kazakhstan plans to significantly expand its hydropower capacity over the next five years. By the end of 2030, the country intends to commission new hydropower plants with a combined capacity of approximately 660 MW, nearly tripling the sector’s current installed capacity, according to the Ministry of Energy. At present, 43 hydropower facilities operate in Kazakhstan with a total installed capacity of 313 MW. The implementation of agreements already concluded is expected to raise this figure to nearly 1 GW, substantially increasing the contribution of hydropower to the national energy mix. In 2025, an additional project was added to the portfolio: the 26 MW Korinskaya HPP-2 was commissioned in the Jetisu Region. By the end of the year, total electricity generation from renewable energy sources reached 8.621 billion kWh, of which 1.196 billion kWh was produced by small and medium-sized hydropower plants. Kazakhstan continues to rely on an auction mechanism to attract investment and enhance transparency in the renewable energy sector. In 2025, 500 MW of capacity designated specifically for hydropower projects was offered through competitive auctions. According to the Ministry of Energy, this approach helps reduce project costs and foster a stable investment environment. The highest concentration of renewable energy facilities, including hydropower plants, is located in the southern and southeastern regions, Zhambyl, Almaty, and Jetisu regions. These areas benefit from significant river potential and established infrastructure capable of supporting further generation growth. The ministry states that implementation of the planned projects will diversify Kazakhstan’s energy mix, supply remote areas with stable green electricity, reduce pressure on the main transmission grids, and enhance overall system reliability. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, renewable energy accounted for 7% of Kazakhstan’s national energy mix by the end of 2025.

Rogun Hydropower Plant

Tajikistan Plans Over $1 Billion for Rogun Hydropower Project in 2026

The government of Tajikistan plans to allocate at least 10 billion TJS (more than $1 billion) to finance the Rogun hydropower project in 2026, Finance Minister Faiziddin Qahhorzoda said on February 13 at a press conference in Dushanbe. The statement was later released by the Ministry of Finance and reported by Asia-Plus. Qahhorzoda specified that 8.2 billion TJS has already been earmarked in the state budget for completion of the Rogun hydropower plant. He added that additional financing could be mobilized through development partners, as agreements have been signed and the required domestic procedures and partner conditions have been fulfilled. “Certain conditions had to be met by the government of Tajikistan to access these funds. All conditions have been completed, and financing under the first tranche of $350 million has begun,” the minister said, referring to grant funding from the World Bank. He added that negotiations for an additional $300 million from the institution have been concluded successfully, with the funds expected to become available by mid-year. The minister also stated that domestic procedures are being finalized to attract $150 million from the Islamic Development Bank, as well as $100 million each from the Saudi Fund for Development, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, and the OPEC Fund for International Development. According to Qahhorzoda, the remaining step is the completion of tender procedures. In addition, all procedures have reportedly been completed to secure $500 million from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, of which $270 million is expected to be disbursed in the first tranche. According to the Finance Ministry, approximately 11 billion TJS was allocated in 2025 for the completion of Rogun, including 2 billion TJS designated for servicing Eurobonds issued to support the project. Earlier, at the end of January, the Energy Ministry stated during a separate press conference that several financing agreements signed with international partners in 2024-2025 had already entered into force. Officials noted that activating these agreements required fulfilling a number of technical and procedural conditions. The Rogun hydropower plant, located 110 kilometers from Dushanbe on the Vakhsh River, is the largest energy project in Tajikistan. Construction began in 1976 but was suspended following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Work resumed after independence. Of the six planned generating units, each with a capacity of 600 MW, two are currently operational and had produced 9.9 billion kWh of electricity by the end of last year. In December 2025, President Emomali Rahmon announced that the third unit is scheduled to be commissioned in September 2027. Once all six units are operational, the plant’s total installed capacity will reach 3.78 GW, and its 335-meter dam is projected to become the tallest in the world. The total cost of construction has been estimated at $6.2 billion.