{"id":41905,"date":"2022-10-24T15:22:59","date_gmt":"2022-10-24T13:22:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/?p=41905"},"modified":"2023-03-30T17:16:36","modified_gmt":"2023-03-30T15:16:36","slug":"a-significant-power-shortage-expected-for-kyrgyzstan-in-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/kyrgyzstan\/a-significant-power-shortage-expected-for-kyrgyzstan-in-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"A significant power shortage expected for Kyrgyzstan in 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>A significant power shortage is expected in 2022 for Kyrgyzstan. In order to create power, the country relies on the Toktogul reservoir, which was built on the Naryn river. However, its level sharply decreased over the course of the last months. A worrying situation for a country that relies on this essential power source.<\/strong><strong>This article was originally published on Novastan\u2019s <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/novastan.org\/fr\/kirghizstan\/une-penurie-delectricite-importante-attendue-au-kirghizstan-pour-2022\/\"><strong>French website<\/strong><\/a><strong> on February 8, 2022.<\/strong>\n\nIt is a crisis situation in Kyrgyzstan. According to Kyrgyz media <a href=\"https:\/\/kloop.kg\/blog\/2021\/02\/10\/besperebojnoe-elektrosnabzhenie-investitsii-i-vozobnovlyaemye-istochniki-prezident-prinyal-ministra-energetiki\/\">Kloop<\/a>, the water level of the <a href=\"https:\/\/fr.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Barrage_de_Toktogul\">Toktogul reservoir<\/a>, responsible for 40% to 50% of the power production of the country, has levelled down to 9.4 billion cubic meter on 20 January 2022. It figure represents <a href=\"https:\/\/rus.azattyk.org\/a\/31664926.html\">1.8 billion<\/a> less than the previous year, as described by <a href=\"https:\/\/rus.azattyk.org\/a\/31664926.html\">Radio Azattyk<\/a>, the Kyrgyz branch of American media Radio Free Europe.\n\nOn 2 February this year, the level dropped below 9 billion cubic meter, describes Kyrgyz press agency <a href=\"https:\/\/24.kg\/vlast\/220863_kyirgyizstan_prodoljaet_importirovat_elektroenergiyu_izturkmenistana_\/\">24.kg<\/a>, while quoting measures of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.energo-es.kg\/ky\/kompaniya-zhonundo\/toktogul-water-volume\/\">National Energy Holding Company<\/a> (NEHC). This Monday, 7 February, the level settled to around 8.8 billion cubic meter. If that level were to drop below 5.5 billion cubic meter, then the dam would not be functional.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hp-newsletter col-span-3 lg:col-span-1 flex flex-col bg-primary-100 border-t-8 border-secondary-500 rounded-lg justify-center items-center lg:items-stretch px-6 py-6 gap-4 box-border\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"flex\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"enveloppe\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"far fa-envelope text-5xl text-secondary-300\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"formulaire_nl\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"font-bold text-xl block\">The whole of Central Asia in your inbox\n<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSubscribe to our free weekly newsletter\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<form class=\"flex w-3\/4 lg:w-full\" action=\"https:\/\/us4.list-manage.com\/subscribe?u=6a15a2256d412b041fdec39e8&amp;id=d479236523\" method=\"post\" id=\"mc-embedded-subscribe-form\" name=\"mc-embedded-subscribe-form\" class=\"validate\" target=\"_blank\" novalidate=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input class=\"flex-grow py-2 px-3 border border-primary-300 rounded-l\" type=\"email\" placeholder=\"Email\" name=\"EMAIL\" id=\"mce-EMAIL\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"bg-secondary-500 py-2 px-3 text-white rounded-r-md border border-secondary-500\" type=\"submit\" value=\"\" name=\"subscribe\">Register<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/form>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"underline text-secondary-700\">Click here for the latest issue\n<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- newsletter -->\n\t\t\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nThis situation worries Kyrgyz authorities, because 90% of locally-produced power stems from hydroelectricity, according to figures quoted by Kyrgyz media <a href=\"https:\/\/www.akchabar.kg\/ru\/news\/bolee-90-elektroenergii-vyrabatyvaetsya-gidroelektrostanciyami\/\">Akchabar<\/a>.\n\nIn order to keep up with the demand, on 28 January 2022 the NEHC <a href=\"https:\/\/nehk.energo.kg\/content\/articles_view\/1042\">appealed<\/a> to the population to limit their power usage. More concretely, the provider urged people not to use household electrical appliances from 6 PM to 10 PM and from 7 AM to 9 AM. It also recommended varying heating supply sources- for instance using gas or coal. The authorities warned about the <a href=\"https:\/\/novastan.org\/fr\/decryptage\/le-kirghizstan-se-prepare-a-une-crise-energetique\/\">possibility of a crisis as soon as October this winter<\/a>, however, to no avail.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The challenge of water protection while facing increasing electricity usage<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>\nAt large, the issue remains intractable. Kyrgyzstan needs 15 billion kilowatt-hour (khw) each year, and up to 16 to 17 billion for a comfortable winter, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/rus.azattyk.org\/a\/31544338.html\">Radio Azattyk<\/a>. Just like <a href=\"https:\/\/24.kg\/obschestvo\/209497_gasite_svet_kak_sekonomit_naschetah_zaelektroenergiyu_bez_uscherba_dlya_komforta\/\">24.kg<\/a> described in October 2021, winter consumption is particularly high, due to heating appliances being used. Hence there is a delicate winter season ahead, where the transition towards the heating season may be critical regarding the water level stabilization of the Toktogul reservoir.\n\n\n\n<strong>Read more <\/strong><strong>on Novastan: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/kyrgyzstan\/life-by-the-river-the-naryn-in-kyrgyzstan\/\">Life by the River: Naryn in Kyrgyzstan<\/a>\n\nThe 2021\/2022 winter season remained <a href=\"https:\/\/24.kg\/vlast\/220863_kyirgyizstan_prodoljaet_importirovat_elektroenergiyu_izturkmenistana_\/\">stable<\/a> in terms of electricity production, according to the Minister of Energy Doskul Bekmurzaev on 18 January, recounts <a href=\"https:\/\/24.kg\/vlast\/220863_kyirgyizstan_prodoljaet_importirovat_elektroenergiyu_izturkmenistana_\/\">24.kg<\/a>. <em>\u201cEverybody is working as per usual. I am confident we will go through the winter period in a stable way\u201d<\/em>, he added while facing Kyrgyz Members of Parliament.\n\nDespite that, on 26 January, member of Parliament Mederbek Aliyev explained it was necessary to improve the electricity consumption culture, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/24.kg\/vlast\/221859_deputat_schitaet_chto_vkyirgyizstane_net_kulturyi_polzovaniya_elektrichestvom\/\">24.kg<\/a>. According to Talaybek Baigaziyev, the president of the NEHC\u2019s administration council, a two to three million kWh <a href=\"https:\/\/rus.azattyk.org\/a\/31544338.html\">increase<\/a> was recorded in 2021, in comparison with 2020, describes <a href=\"https:\/\/rus.azattyk.org\/a\/31544338.html\">Radio Azattyk<\/a>. Kyrgyz people use more electricity than the established limit, especially in Bishkek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, adds the Kyrgyz media.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A substantial electricity supply planned for 2022<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>\nIn general, Kyrgyzstan currently has a 6 billion kilowatt-hour electricity deficit, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/rus.azattyk.org\/a\/31503109.html\">Radio Azattyk<\/a>. And it is not improving anytime soon. Still according to <a href=\"https:\/\/rus.azattyk.org\/a\/31664926.html\">Radio Azattyk<\/a>, electricity engineers predict that by spring, the water level of the reservoir may drop to six billion cubic meters, a number which has never been so low.\n\nIn order to maintain the water level of the reservoir, Kyrgyzstan imported electricity through Central Asian neighbour countries. The minister of Energy and Industry, Kubanychbek Turdubayev, stated that Kyrgyzstan had already agreed on a 3 billion kWh electricity import with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/rus.azattyk.org\/a\/31664926.html\">Radio Azattyk<\/a>. On 2 December 2021, an <a href=\"https:\/\/kaktus.media\/doc\/450532_tyrkmenistan_bydet_postavliat_elektroenergiu_v_kyrgyzstan_v_2022_gody.html\">agreement<\/a> regarding electricity supply for 2022 was also signed with Turkmenistan. <a href=\"https:\/\/rus.azattyk.org\/a\/31664926.html\">Radio Azattyk<\/a> explains that these importations, in addition to previous contracts, will allow for a 20% coverage of the national electricity demand.\n\nElectricity import was already significant in 2021. In total the country <a href=\"https:\/\/rus.azattyk.org\/a\/31664926.html\">imported<\/a> 2 billion kWh from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan through exchange or direct purchase. For instance, in spring 2021, Kyrgyzstan executed an agreement with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan over the electricity supply of 1650 million kWh before spring 2022 in order to overcome the crisis, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/rus.azattyk.org\/a\/31664926.html\">Radio Azattyk<\/a>. In exchange, Kyrgyzstan must drain water during summer months until 2023.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Towards energy independence despite all?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>\nBut these imports will be short-lived. <em>\u201cIn order to achieve energy independence, we must increase the production to 18 billion kilowatt-hours\u201d <\/em>estimated Prime Minister <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Akylbek_Japarov\">Akylbek Japarov<\/a> in October this year, relays <a href=\"https:\/\/rus.azattyk.org\/a\/31503109.html\">Radio Azattyk<\/a>.\n\nOne of the solutions might be nuclear power. On 20 January, Russian business Rosatom and the Minister of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic signed a cooperation protocol for the construction of <a href=\"https:\/\/novastan.org\/fr\/kirghizstan\/le-kirghizstan-veut-construire-des-mini-centrales-nucleaires\/\">small nuclear power plants<\/a>.\n\n<strong>Read more <\/strong><strong>on Novastan<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/kazakhstan\/climate-change-could-lead-to-ever-more-fluctuated-temperatures-in-central-asia\/\">Climate change could lead to ever more fluctuated temperatures in Central Asia<\/a>\n\nAn issue that seems to always spark debate is that the Kyrgyz government holds onto the hydroelectric power system.<em> \u201cIt is not necessary to build a nuclear power plant in Kyrgyzstan. In each region, there are water supplies and an opportunity to build hydroelectric power stations\u201d<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/rus.azattyk.org\/a\/31668178.html\">explains<\/a> the Deputy Minister of Energy, Raimbek Mamyrov.\n\n&nbsp;\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\">Written by Ma\u00ebva Pouffier<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\">Translated from French by Emma Jerome<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\">Edited by Maya Ivanova\n<p><em>For more news and analysis from Central Asia, follow us on <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/Novastan_Eng\">Twitter<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Novastan.org\/\">Facebook<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/telegram.me\/novastan\">Telegram<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/fondation-novastan\/\">Linkedin<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/novastanorg\/\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/em><\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A significant power shortage is expected in 2022 for Kyrgyzstan. In order to create power, the country relies on the Toktogul reservoir, which was built on the Naryn river. However, its level sharply decreased over the course of the last months. A worrying situation for a country that relies on this essential power source.This article [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":984,"featured_media":41908,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[4001,4600,4601,4599],"coauthors":[3992],"class_list":["post-41905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kyrgyzstan","tag-electricity","tag-energy-crisis","tag-import","tag-power"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41905","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/984"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41905"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41905\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41908"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41905"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41905"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41905"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=41905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}