Kyrgyzstan is increasing the capacity of HPPs with the help of international partners
Kyrgyzstan is actively modernizing its hydroelectric power plants, attracting international companies and financing to increase the capacity and reliability of the energy system. Reconstruction of Toktogulskaya, Uch-Kurgan and Lebedinovskaya HPPs will not only increase electricity generation, but also extend the service life of the equipment, however, a temporary decrease in capacity will require energy imports and rational consumption by the population.
Toktogul HPP, the largest in the country, is completing a large-scale renovation program. From February 20, 2025, the French company GE Hydro will begin the reconstruction of the fourth hydroelectric unit, which will add 60 megawatts to the station’s capacity. After replacing all four units, the total capacity will reach 1,440 megawatts. However, until December 2025, the output of the Toktogul HPP will be temporarily reduced by 300 megawatts, which forces the Ministry of Energy of Kyrgyzstan to negotiate the purchase of electricity from neighboring countries.
The Uch-Kurgan HPP, commissioned back in 1962, is also undergoing modernization. From March 1, 2025, the Chinese company CNEEC will begin updating the second hydroelectric unit, increasing its capacity by 9 megawatts. Earlier, in 2024, similar work on the fourth unit added 16 megawatts to the station’s capacity. For the duration of the work, until its completion by December 2025, the Uch-Kurgan HPP, whose equipment has not been repaired for decades, will temporarily reduce output by 45 megawatts. The agency urged citizens to use resources economically in the autumn-winter period.
Lebedinovskaya HPP, a key facility of the Alameda cascade of hydroelectric power plants, received funding in the amount of 13.8 million euros from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The project, launched in 2023, provides for an increase in capacity from 7.6 to 9.2 megawatts, an increase in annual output by 56% and an increase in efficiency to 90%. The modernization, which will be completed by the end of 2027, will extend the service life of the station by 30-40 years, ensuring stable energy and water supply to the region. Consultations on the implementation of the project are conducted by LLC “Group of Independent Engineers”.
