The boom of small hydropower plants in Kyrgyzstan: new risks for nature
Large-scale development of hydropower potential of small rivers continues in Kyrgyzstan, which causes serious concern in terms of environmental impact. Aalyaidar Slem uulu, head of the long-term development Department of the state-owned Chakan HPP OJSC, confirmed on the radio yesterday the rapid growth of electricity generation by small hydroelectric power plants (MPPS) and ambitious plans for further construction. Against the background of the existing shortage of electricity in the country, estimated at 3.5 billion kWh, the development of small hydropower is presented by hydropower as an important solution to strengthen the energy system.
The figures presented are really impressive and indicate a growing trend. Aalyaidar Slem uulu cited data according to which the generation volumes of small HPPs showed explosive growth: from 41 million kWh in 2022 and 57 million kWh in 2023 to 156 million kWh in 2024. This almost threefold jump in one year indicates the accelerated commissioning of new capacities and makes us think about the consequences of such rapid intervention in the country’s river ecosystems.
Plans for the coming years confirm these concerns. Only in 2025, 18 new small hydropower plants are scheduled to be launched throughout Kyrgyzstan. The geography of construction covers all regions: eight HPPs in the Chui region, three HPPs each in Osh, Jalal-Abad and Issyk-Kul regions, two HPPs in Batken and one HPP in Talas region. This means fragmentation and a change in the hydrological regime of many rivers at the same time. In 2024, 8 new small HPPs have already been commissioned, including Bala-Saruu, Kok-Art and Kainama stations, built directly by Chakan HPP OJSC.
Aalyaidar Slem uulu stressed that Chakan HPP OJSC, fully owned by the Ministry of Energy of Kyrgyzstan, is actively implementing state projects in this area. However, he also noted the growing interest in the construction of small hydropower plants from the private sector. According to him, private companies independently develop projects, attract investments and conduct construction. An alarming signal is the recognition that many private investors do not yet have enough experience in this specific area. They often seek advice on design, installation and organization of construction from specialists of the state-owned company “Chakan HPP”. This raises questions about how carefully environmental assessments are carried out and environmental regulations are observed when implementing private projects, especially in the pursuit of quick profits and filling energy shortages.
Long-term plans look even more ambitious. In the period from 2025 to 2030, it is planned to build about 50 small hydroelectric power plants in Kyrgyzstan. In addition to the 18 stations planned for 2025, 16 more are expected to be commissioned in 2026, and 12 in 2027. As a justification for such rapid development, Aalyaidar Slem uulu pointed out the needs of the growing economy – the opening of new factories and factories requiring stable energy supply. However, behind this economic growth there is an increase in the anthropogenic load on natural complexes. The massive construction of dams, even small ones, changes riverbeds, affects biodiversity, fish migration routes and can lead to irreversible changes in vulnerable mountain ecosystems of the republic. Will the economic benefits and potential environmental damage be weighed carefully enough before the rivers of Kyrgyzstan turn into cascades of small hydroelectric power plants?
