Construction of the Kulanak HPP: interference in the nature of Kyrgyzstan
On the Naryn River, in the heart of Kyrgyzstan, a large-scale construction of the new Kulanak hydroelectric power station is underway. This project, implemented by LLC “Naryn Production Enterprise”, involves the construction of a hydroelectric power station with a capacity of 100 megawatts. The construction site was chosen at a strategically important point, about 40 kilometers west of the city of Naryn, slightly below the confluence of two major waterways – the Naryn and At-Basha rivers.
The stated purpose of the layout of hydraulic structures is to maximize the use of water energy of the river while minimizing the area of flooded land. However, the very structure of the project, which includes a dam, a water intake, an extended derivation channel, a pressure basin, the station building itself and a discharge channel, indicates a significant transformation of the natural landscape and hydrological regime of the Naryn River. The construction of the dam will inevitably lead to changes in the flow rate, sedimentation and potentially affect the migration routes of fish and other aquatic organisms.
Particular attention is drawn to the 6.5-kilometer-long derivation channel. Its laying on the right bank of the river means that a significant amount of water will be diverted from the natural channel in a significant area. This can lead to shallowing or a complete change in the ecosystem of the old channel, affect the coastal vegetation and wildlife dependent on the river. The water will be directed to the pressure station node, concentrating the impact on a specific area.
It is planned to place four hydroelectric units inside the HPP building, each with a capacity of 25 megawatts. It is expected that in total they will generate about 450 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. This energy is called “environmentally friendly”, however, the construction and operation of large hydropower plants are always associated with serious environmental consequences, which often remain outside the scope of official communications. The impact on biodiversity, changes in the microclimate, potential methane emissions from the reservoir – all this calls into question the absolute “purity” of hydropower of this scale.
Among the officially declared priorities of the project is to meet the country’s domestic electricity needs, which is an urgent task. It also declares the transition to “environmentally friendly and resource-saving” energy and strengthening the energy security of Kyrgyzstan. However, it raises questions about how fully the environmental costs of such a transition are taken into account. In addition, the project is directly related to the country’s international obligations: the created capacities should help fulfill the conditions for the export of electricity to Pakistan and Afghanistan as part of the large CASA-1000 energy project. This means that the natural resources of the Naryn River will be exploited not only for domestic needs, but also for foreign markets.
At the moment, more than 600 people are already working at the construction site. In the coming years, at the peak of construction work in 2025-2026, the number of staff is planned to increase to 1,000 people. Such a number of workers and equipment in a limited area inevitably creates an additional burden on the environment: noise, dust, construction waste, the need to create temporary infrastructure – all these are factors of anthropogenic impact on a vulnerable mountain ecosystem.
Alexander Eskendirov (Rivers.Help!)
