Construction of Orto-Tokoyskaya and Kulanakskaya HPPs continues in Kyrgyzstan
Large-scale construction of hydroelectric power plants continues in Kyrgyzstan, which raises serious questions about the long-term consequences for the environment of the region. The press service of the Ministry of Energy informs about the implementation of major projects in this area, emphasizing that it is planned to allocate about $ 162.8 million for the construction of the Orto-Tokoyskaya and Kulanakskaya HPPs alone – enormous funds flowing into the transformation of river ecosystems.
One of these ambitious projects, the Orto-Tokoyskaya HPP, is being built directly on the reservoir of the same name, which is already an anthropogenically modified water body. This raises concerns about the cumulative impact on the local ecosystem. The cost of further intervention in the natural balance is estimated at $ 34.8 million. The work is carried out by the local company “Chakan HPP” in partnership with the Chinese corporation China National Machinery Corporation, involving 130 people in the process. It is officially stated that the future station with a capacity of 21 MW will be able to produce 75 million kWh of electricity annually, which, according to calculations, will meet the needs of more than 14 thousand subscribers. Completion and commissioning of the HPP are expected in the first half of 2026, adding another regulated section to the country’s waterways.
Another project, the Kulanak HPP, is an even larger hydraulic engineering structure with a potentially more significant ecological footprint. With a capacity of 100 MW and a planned annual output of 435 million kWh, this station will require an investment of about $ 128 million. Financial support for this large-scale construction is provided by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund (RCDF). The launch of the Kulank HPP, which is scheduled for the end of 2026, will mark another change in the hydrological regime of the local river and adjacent territories.
Against the background of new construction, the modernization of already existing hydropower facilities does not stop. As an example, the At-Bashinskaya HPP is cited, which already plays a key role in the energy supply of the Naryn region, covering a quarter of its needs. It is reported about the recent completion of the upgrade of all four units of the station and its key control systems. In 2024, the output of At-Bashinskaya HPP amounted to 204 million kWh of electricity, which emphasizes the region’s dependence on hydropower and the constant need to intervene in river systems to maintain it.
Alexander Eskendirov (Rivers.Help!)
