Since November 2024, Kyrgyzstan has been importing small volumes of electricity from China, according to data from the General Administration of Customs of China, as reported by Economist.kg.
According to Chinese authorities, between November 2024 and February 2025, 11,000 kWh of electricity was supplied to Kyrgyzstan, with the highest volume recorded in November - 4,000 kWh.
Despite this, China’s share in Kyrgyzstan’s total electricity imports remains minimal. In 2024, Kyrgyzstan imported a total of 3.6 billion kWh from neighboring countries to offset shortages during peak consumption periods. The main suppliers were Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan, while China had not previously been on the list of electricity providers.
The National Electric Grid of Kyrgyzstan stated that electricity imports from China in such small volumes are specifically for supplying the Bedel border checkpoint, which was opened in autumn 2024 and is located deep in Kyrgyzstan’s mountainous regions, making electricity supply challenging.
Company representatives explained that, at present, importing electricity from China is more economically feasible, as the nearest connection point on the Kyrgyz side is far away. Establishing local energy supply would require additional infrastructure construction.
It is known that full-scale construction of a highway, along with the development of customs and border infrastructure meeting international standards, will be jointly implemented by 2027. Plans also include the construction of a modern inspection complex.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
April 4, 2025