Kyrgyzstan Advances Hydropower Modernization Efforts
Kyrgyzstan is moving forward with the modernization of two major hydroelectric power plants as part of its efforts to increase electricity generation and meet the country’s growing energy demands. According to the Ministry of Energy, on February 20, French company GE Hydro will begin reconstruction of hydroelectric generating unit No. 4 at the Toktogul Hydropower Plant (HPP) - the country’s largest power facility, located on the Naryn River. The plant currently generates approximately 40% of Kyrgyzstan’s electricity. Once completed, the upgrade will add 60 megawatts (MW) to the plant’s capacity. In November 2024, Toktogul HPP successfully launched a modernized unit No. 1, increasing its output by 60 MW. That unit’s reconstruction, which began in March 2024, followed earlier upgrades to units No. 2 and No. 3, which collectively added 120 MW to the facility’s capacity. Before modernization, Toktogul HPP had a total capacity of 1,200 MW, with each of its four units generating 300 MW. Upon completion of upgrades to all four units, Toktogul HPP’s total capacity will rise to 1,440 MW, and its operational lifespan will be extended by 25 to 30 years. Meanwhile, on March 1, 2025, China National Electric Engineering Company (CNEEC) will begin the modernization of unit No. 2 at the Uch-Kurgan HPP, increasing its capacity by 9 MW. Situated on the Naryn River, the Uch-Kurgan HPP plays a key role in Kyrgyzstan’s energy supply. Before its modernization, the plant had a total capacity of 180 MW, with four units generating 45 MW each. Since its commissioning in 1962, the plant had never undergone major upgrades until 2024, when unit No. 4 was reconstructed, boosting its output by 16 MW. The modernization of Toktogul unit No. 4 and Uch-Kurgan unit No. 2 is expected to be completed by December 2025. To ensure an uninterrupted power supply during the temporary shutdown of these units, the Ministry of Energy has held negotiations with neighboring countries regarding electricity imports. The government has also urged the population to use electricity sparingly while modernization work is underway. In addition to these upgrades, Kyrgyzstan is constructing the Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant, which will have a projected capacity of 1,860 MW and an average annual generation of 5.6 billion kilowatt-hours. Once completed, Kambarata-1 will be the country’s largest hydropower facility and is expected to help eliminate Kyrgyzstan’s electricity shortages.
