Bishkek, Nov. 10, 2025. /Kabar/. President Sadyr Zhaparov addressed the people of Kyrgyzstan regarding the electricity situation in the country.
"Recently, the National Electric Grid of Kyrgyzstan (NEGK) proposed an initiative to encourage the population to use electricity without restrictions during the autumn and winter, without changing their consumption volumes. However, this initiative was put forward without prior approval from the Ministry.
This has sparked widespread public debate.
Yes, the so-called "unlimited tariff" was introduced three years ago, aimed at partially compensating for the difference between the price of imported electricity and the price at which it was sold to the population. However, under current conditions, the water volume in reservoirs is 2 billion cubic meters less than last year. Therefore, connection to the unlimited tariff has been temporarily suspended. After seeing this report in the media, I immediately called the minister, expressed my strong dissatisfaction, and ordered him to stop such actions and ensure equal access to electricity for citizens.
As a result, the CEO of NEGK and his deputy for commercial issues were reprimanded, and the head of the electricity sales department, I.A. Orozbaev, was dismissed.
Now I want to take this opportunity to explain the situation in the energy sector in detail. The people need to know the truth.
Before 2020, the energy sector's debt amounted to 137 billion soms. Kyrgyzstan's energy system was on the brink of disaster. The situation was particularly dire for the joint-stock companies Vostokelectro and Jalalabatelectro – their external and internal debts grew daily, and they paid workers' salaries by borrowing from commercial banks. In other words, they were bankrupt. The engineers remember that situation well. The generators are outdated; the equipment hasn't been updated since the 1960s. New hydroelectric power plants were practically never built. Only in 2009 was the first generator of the Kambar-Ata-2 hydroelectric power plant commissioned. No other significant hydroelectric power plant has been built.
Since independence, we've faced electricity shortages every winter. Naturally, we bought electricity abroad to cover the shortfall. There were times when one kilowatt-hour cost us 5 soms. I learned about this when I came to power and began reforming the energy sector, eliminating corruption and theft in the system. How much of those 5 soms ended up in someone's pocket? God only knows.
The countries that sold us electricity at the time, of course, won't talk about this either. Therefore, it's extremely difficult to establish the truth now.
Energy purchased at 5 soms was sold to the public at 0.77 tyiyn per kilowatt-hour. The difference of 4 soms (23 tyiyn) placed a heavy burden on the energy system, accumulating as debt.
Thus, starting in 2020, as a result of reforms—eliminating dubious schemes, theft, corruption, and a sharp reduction in electricity losses—we have managed to reduce the total debt from 137 billion to 25 billion soms.
With God's help, next year we will completely eliminate this debt, and starting in 2027, our energy system will begin to generate a profit for the first time in history. This is a great achievement for our country and our independence.
If I had also thought like this: "I won't bother myself any further, the main thing is that my presidential term somehow passes," I might not have built hydroelectric power plants at all, not implemented reforms, but simply imported electricity at 5 soms and sold it to the public at 1 som.
Believe me, even a fifth-grade student could have done that. But I didn't choose that path. Because if I had continued the same practices, the country's energy system would truly have been on the brink of disaster. Today, we import electricity for approximately 3 soms per kilowatt-hour (that's the cost price), and sell it to the public at 1 som 37 tyiyn. The difference is currently being covered by the ministry.
Nevertheless, thanks to the reforms and measures being taken, we expect the ministry to fully pay off its 25 billion soms debt next year and become profitable by 2027.
Currently, the water level in the Toktogul Reservoir is two billion cubic meters lower than last year. Therefore, to maintain water levels and eliminate the electricity shortage, we are forced to import large quantities.
Today, we are calling on citizens to conserve precisely to reduce imports.
Remember: the less efficiently we use electricity, the more money we spend abroad.
In this regard, government agencies have already been instructed to completely turn off lights and electrical appliances in buildings after 6:00 PM.
There is enough electricity in the world, we can import it without restrictions. But every extra kilowatt-hour costs the budget additional expenses. And the budget is the people's money, your money. Don't forget that.
Frankly, many private individuals don't conserve energy either. You enter some houses and see the lights on in every room during the day. Walk down the street and someone's yard lights are on even during the day. Therefore, I want to call all citizens: use electricity sparingly. Every 100-watt light bulb left on continuously for an hour "drains" about 270 liters of water from the Toktogul Reservoir.
Imagine – 270 liters for one light bulb! So, don't forget to turn off the lights at night.
I lived in Europe for four years and I can tell you: they don't leave the lights on even for a minute – they turn them off immediately. Because electricity is expensive there. For example, in Germany in winter, one kilowatt-hour costs about 0.50 euro cents, or about 0.50 soms.
In Central Asian countries, such as Uzbekistan, tariffs depend on consumption: with an average consumption of around 1,000 kWh per month, you pay around 500 soums, which is about 3 soms 60 tyiyn. The more you use, the higher the tariff.
In Kazakhstan, in Almaty, the tariff ranges from 30 to 50 tenge, or 5 to 8 soms.
And here in Kyrgyzstan, it's only 1 som 37 tyiyn.
Some might say, "But their salaries are higher." But if you compare all expenses: food, healthcare, taxes, home and car insurance, you'll find that the standard of living is roughly comparable.
And yet, our electricity remains the cheapest. For the third year in a row, we've been massively building hydroelectric power plants, as well as solar and wind power plants. Soon, for the first time in our country's history, a solar power plant will be launched.
However, despite all these achievements, we still lack energy in winter. With hundreds of factories and plants, thousands of schools and kindergartens, and millions of square meters of housing being built every year, all of this requires a large amount of energy, and we continue to face a shortage that we cannot keep up with.
I would like to highlight the hydroelectric power plants that were commissioned earlier.
Hydroelectric Power Plants commissioned in 2024:
- Bala-Saruu Hydroelectric Power Plant – 25 MW (Talas Region)
- Issyk-Ata Hydroelectric Power Plant 1–2 MW (Chui Region)
- Kok-Art Hydroelectric Power Plant – 6.7 MW (Jalal-Abad Region)
- Kainama Hydroelectric Power Plant – 9.6 MW (Jalal-Abad Region)
- Isfayram-1 Hydroelectric Power Plant – 2 MW (Batken Region)
- Kurak-Tektir-1 Hydroelectric Power Plant – 0.6 MW (Osh Region)
- Arashan Hydroelectric Power Plant – 2.4 MW (Issyk-Kul Region)
- Beles Hydroelectric Power Plant – 0.54 MW (Batken Region)
The total installed capacity is 48.84 MW.
Hydroelectric Power Plants (HPPs) commissioned in 2025:
- Koisuu HPP – 9 MW (Issyk-Kul Region)
- Issyk-Ata HPP 2–4 MW (Chui Region)
- Aksy HPP – 4.75 MW (Jalal-Abad Region)
- Boz-Uchuk HPP – 5.54 MW (Issyk-Kul Region)
- Kara-Kul HPP – 18 MW (Jalal-Abad Region)
- Total installed capacity: 41.29 MW.
In addition, modernization work has been carried out at previously built large hydroelectric power plants, increasing their capacity.
At the Toktogul HPP, all four units have been upgraded, adding 240 MW of capacity.
This is equivalent to building a new hydroelectric power plant with a capacity of 240 MW.
At the Uch-Kurgan Hydroelectric Power Plant, 9 MW were added as part of the reconstruction, and an additional 36 MW will be generated upon full completion of the project.
At the Kambar-Ata Hydroelectric Power Plant-2, a project is underway to commission a second 120 MW unit. At-Bashinskaya Hydroelectric Power Plant has been upgraded, adding 11.44 MW. Reconstruction work continues at the Lebedinovskaya Hydroelectric Power Plant.
Preparatory and design work is also underway at the Papanskaya, Nizhne-Tarskaya, and Bystrovskaya Hydroelectric Power Plants.
In 2025, the following plants will be built in the Jalal-Abad, Batken, Osh, Naryn, and Chui regions:
Kojo-Kaiyr (Bazarbay-Ata-3), Kurak-Tektir-2, Kainama-2, Sary-Tash, Shamshy, Sokuluk-3, Tuyuk, Kurtka, and Ken-Tor-1. Their total capacity will be 29.53 MW.
In 2026, construction of 25 small hydroelectric power plants is planned, including:
- Orto-Tokoyskaya HPP (21 MW),
- Kulanakskaya HPP (100 MW),
- Turgentskaya HPP (26 MW),
- Maily-Suuyskaya HPP (26 MW),
- Ak-Suuyskaya HPP-3 (17.66 MW), and other facilities.
- Total capacity: 286.21 MW.
In 2027, 14 more new hydroelectric power plants will be commissioned, including:
- Papanskaya HPP (27 MW),
- Zheruyskaya HPP (28 MW),
- Chandalashskaya HPP (30 MW).
- Total capacity will be 172.88 MW.
The following facilities are planned for construction in 2028–2030:
Konorchok, Kyzyl-Suu, Kichi-Kemin, Kyshtuut, and Nizhne-Tarskaya hydroelectric power plants.
Total capacity: 44.7 MW.
Promising projects for the coming years include:
Chon-Kemin hydroelectric power plant (26 MW, Chui region) and Chok-Tal hydroelectric power plant (3.7 MW, Issyk-Kul region).
Thus, construction of large, medium, and small hydroelectric power plants is actively underway.
The current energy shortage is only a temporary problem.
If we hadn't built schools, kindergartens, residential buildings, factories, and plants, the deficit that has accumulated over many years would have long ago been covered by the commissioning of hydroelectric power plants, and we would be living in peace.
But we are not sitting idle. We are actively working. The reason I say we'll cover the winter electricity deficit in two and a half years is because about one hundred small and medium-sized hydroelectric power plants are under construction across the country. All of them will be completed. Furthermore, construction has begun on a 1,200 MW thermal power plant in Kara-Keche, with an annual output of up to 7 billion kWh.
It is planned to be operational in two and a half years. Once completed, the winter electricity deficit will be completely eliminated. If we simply wait for the completion of the Kambar-Ata Hydroelectric Power Plant No. 1, it will take another 7-8 years.
When Kambar-Ata is fully operational, Kyrgyzstan will become an electricity exporting country.
We are continuously and purposefully working towards this goal.
As the aforementioned projects are implemented, the electricity deficit will gradually be eliminated, and Kyrgyzstan will become an energy-secure, self-sufficient, and sustainable country. Therefore, I ask for your understanding during the current temporary difficulties and your patience in assisting in restoring our power system.
Use electricity sparingly and rationally – this is how you will make your contribution,” the president said.