TODAY.AZ / World news

Kyrgyzstan grappling with electricity shortage

30 March 2015 [16:30] - TODAY.AZ

/By AzerNews/

By Sara Rajabova

Last year was very difficult for Kyrgyzstan as for the first time in its history as the country, positioning itself as an electricity exporter, was forced to import electricity.

Electricity shortage remains one of the most important issues for Kyrgyzstan with its 5.5 million-population.

Kyrgyzstan purchased more than 200 million kWh from neighboring Tajikistan in spring and summer 2014. The lack of electricity reached its critical stage in fall. The problem became more severe in winter when the average temperature often falls below zero.

The government’s first step to deal with the problem was to raise tariffs, something experts have long called on the government to do. Furthermore, the government implemented a series of change in terms of how energy is being used. For example, in schools, hospitals and kindergartens, coal heating was reintroduced.

However, these measures did not help bridge the 2.4 billion kWh energy deficits.

The country then sought to import electricity from neighboring Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan to solve its energy crisis.

The reasons that led to a lack of electricity in the country are the reduction of water in country’s major reservoirs, as well as the lack of efficient investment and innovation in the electricity industry.

Water levels at Kyrgyzstan's major reservoir are down by around 25 percent last year, which led to an electricity deficit in winter in the country.

In addition, investments and restructuring have remained at low levels and the electricity industry that is traditionally an important part of industry’s contribution to the GDP has stagnated in recent years.

Out-of-date infrastructures and poor management make Kyrgyzstan more dependent on foreign energy in winter when water levels are low. Even though Kyrgyzstan has abundant hydro resources, only less than ten percent of its potential has been developed so far.

The local and international experts believe the construction of hydro power plants could be a wayout of this problem. From this point of view, a new hydroelectric plant on the Naryn River at Kambar–Ata has been regarded as a viable solution to improve Kyrgyzstan’s export situation and domestic energy supply.

However, the project, which would include one of the largest hydroelectric dams in the world, remained incomplete because of a lack of investments.

Despite measures taken by government, Kyrgyzstan was unable to prevent its energy crisis. Recently, the government has threatened to take serious measures against consumers exceeding their approved limit consumption.

Officials considered that one of the reasons for the energy crisis in the country is careless and wasteful attitude toward electricity.

Nurlan Sadykov, deputy Kyrgyz energy and industry minister has recently said, "unjustified containment of electricity tariffs led to a sharp increase in the growth of consumption, as electricity has become the most common source of heating."

However, the experts on energy sphere have rejected such a justification, saying the officials are to blame for the energy crisis in the country. They consider that Kyrgyzstan had the opportunity to fully provide electricity to consumers and avoid dependence on energy supplies from neighboring countries. They pinned responsibility on the authorities.

One of the main causes of the energy crisis in the country has to do with commercial losses, mainly due to corruption, embezzlement and theft, according to experts.

Meanwhile, Djoomart Otorbaev, the prime minister of Kyrgyzstan said in a cabinet meeting on March 27 that the government will take into account all previous mistakes and not allow the energy crisis in the next heating season.

He said the government was able to save about 1 billion kWh of electricity through the use of alternative methods of heating.

However, as said Otorbaev despite such comforting forecasts, the government will have to reduce the amount of electricity generated at hydroelectric power plants by 2.2 kWh.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/regions/139466.html

Print version

Views: 1069

Connect with us. Get latest news and updates.

Recommend news to friend

  • Your name:
  • Your e-mail:
  • Friend's name:
  • Friend's e-mail: