The Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic has adopted measures to improve energy efficiency and promote the rational use of electricity. As part of this initiative, the government decided to optimize indoor and outdoor lighting, as well as the operation of electrical equipment in administrative state institutions, between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
These measures do not apply to strategically important facilities, round-the-clock organizations, or institutions that provide defense, security, healthcare, social protection, and essential public services. According to forecasts, implementation of the program will save up to 40 million kilowatt-hours of electricity monthly, significantly reducing pressure on the country’s energy system.
The focus on energy efficiency comes amid record growth in electricity consumption — nearly 1 billion kilowatt-hours higher over the first nine months of the current year. This increase is linked to the commissioning of new industrial enterprises, social and educational institutions, and rapid expansion in housing construction.
At the same time, water inflow into the Naryn River has decreased, negatively affecting hydropower operations. The water volume in the Toktogul Reservoir is currently 2 billion cubic meters lower than during the same period last year. In response, the Cabinet of Ministers has prioritized rational water use and optimization of energy equipment load to ensure stable operation of the entire energy system.
Daiyrbek Orunbekov, head of the Presidential Administration’s Information Policy Department, emphasized that the current electricity supply challenges are temporary and stem from decades of underinvestment in the energy sector. According to him, since 2021, under President Sadyr Japarov’s directive, Kyrgyzstan has been implementing a systemic program to modernize energy infrastructure and build new facilities.
“Until recently, Kyrgyzstan relied entirely on hydropower plants built during the Soviet era. For nearly 30 years after independence, no new facilities were built, while the population and energy demand kept growing,” Orunbekov explained.
Within the national energy development program, eight new hydropower plants with a total capacity of 48.84 MW have already been commissioned, including Bala-Saruu (25 MW) and Kainama (9.6 MW). In 2025, several more projects with a combined capacity of 41.29 MW are expected to launch — among them, Koy-Suuy (9 MW) and Kara-Kul (18 MW).
At the same time, large-scale modernization of existing plants continues. Four hydro units have been upgraded at the Toktogul HPP, adding 240 MW of capacity; the Uch-Kurgan HPP gained an additional 9 MW; and at Kambar-Ata-2, a second 120 MW unit is being installed.
By 2030, Kyrgyzstan plans to build dozens of new hydropower plants with a total capacity exceeding 500 MW, including Kulanak (100 MW) and Orto-Tokoy (21 MW). The implementation of these projects will eliminate the electricity deficit and ensure the country’s energy independence.
The adopted energy efficiency measures and the large-scale modernization of the energy sector mark Kyrgyzstan’s transition toward a sustainable energy model that combines resource conservation, renewable energy development, and strengthened national energy security.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
November 7, 2025