Rehabilitation of Kurpsai HPP: Kyrgyzstan seeks financing from ADB
During his visit to Manila, the Minister of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic, Taalaibek Ibraev, presented to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) an ambitious plan for the rehabilitation of the Kurpsai HPP, the second largest hydropower facility in the country. This initiative is a key step in the republic’s strategy to increase generating capacity and ensure stable energy supply.
Negotiations with high-ranking representatives of ADB, including Director General of the Department for Central and West Asia Yevgeny Zhukov and other leaders, laid the foundation for potential cooperation. The proposed project for the modernization of the Kurpsai HPP provides for the renewal of four hydroelectric units. It is expected that this will increase the capacity of each of them by 20%, which in total will give an increase of 160 MW. Thus, the total installed capacity of the station may increase from the current 800 MW to 960 MW, significantly enhancing the energy potential of Kyrgyzstan. Located on the Naryn River, Kurpsai HPP plays an important role in the national energy system, second in power only to Toktogul HPP. The issue of financing this large-scale project will be considered by the bank after the completion of the feasibility study.
At the same time, Kyrgyzstan is successfully progressing in the implementation of other vital energy projects. Three modernized hydroelectric units have already been commissioned at the Toktogul HPP, and the launch of the fourth is scheduled before the end of 2025, which will add 240 MW of capacity to the system. Work is also underway at the Uch-Kurgan HPP: one hydroelectric unit is already operational, the second will be launched by the end of 2025, providing an increase of 36 MW. Taking into account the existing shortage of electricity in the country, the possibility of accelerated rehabilitation of two more units of this station is being discussed, starting in the spring of 2026.
An important step towards increasing the efficiency and transparency of the energy sector will be the modernization of the MDM (Meter Data Management) energy accounting data management system JSC “Kyrgyz Energy Settlement Center”. Minister Ibrayev appealed to ADB with a request for a grant of $940.8 thousand for these purposes. The MDM system will optimize the analysis of electricity generation and consumption, monitor balance and losses, and promptly identify deviations and failures. Following the negotiations, an agreement was reached on the allocation of the requested grant.
In addition, Kyrgyzstan and ADB intend to develop cooperation in the field of renewable energy sources. A pilot project to expand a solar power plant on the territory of HPP-5, owned by JSC Chakan HPP, was discussed. After the successful implementation of the pilot solar installation with a capacity of 100 kW, it is planned to cover the entire surface of the reservoir with photovoltaic panels, which will increase the installed capacity to 15 MW. The Kyrgyz side urged ADB to accelerate the implementation of this innovative project, and the bank confirmed its readiness to fully implement the project to install a floating solar station at HPP-5.
In addition to increasing generating capacities, the Ministry of Energy of Kyrgyzstan expressed readiness for dialogue with ADB on projects for the construction and modernization of network infrastructure. We are talking about 110, 220 and 500 kV power transmission lines, which are critically important for reliable transmission of increased volumes of electricity. If ADB is interested, the Kyrgyz side will provide a detailed list of potential projects aimed at strengthening the national energy system.
Original (in Russian): Реабилитация Курпсайской ГЭС: Кыргызстан ищет финансирование у АБР
