«Instead of being a locomotive, Kyrgyzstan’s energy sector has become a brake for development,» the World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia Tatiana Proskuryakova said at the Bishkek Energy Forum today.
According to her, reform of the energy sector in Kyrgyzstan is an overdue and urgently needed issue. This sector is the engine of growth in many countries. Kyrgyzstan has good potential in the field of green energy — hydropower, solar and wind. There are many options that could be useful for the development of the country.
«But at the same time, the sector is still subsidized. Its debt is $1.5 billion, or 20 percent of GDP. The situation should be changed. After all, the funds that are used to subsidize the sector could have been spent on health care, education, and development programs. Reform is overdue, and we «hear» this in our research as well. The topic of access to reliable energy sources is a leitmotif of research. More than a third of the enterprises say that a reliable source of energy is an important prerequisite for their development,» Tatiana Proskuryakova said.
She noted that the Cabinet of Ministers adopts a road map and strategy for reform of the industry. But we should understand that it is a long process, which will require a lot of efforts from all sides — the state, development partners and private sector. Efforts are needed to make it profitable for the private sector to invest in projects in Kyrgyzstan.
«The roadmap gives hope that this is a real plan and not just a fantasy. That the Cabinet has not only ambitious goals, but real steps that have been thought through and will be implemented. We will follow this path together. We will bring any experts who can help make the decision that is important for Kyrgyzstan. Not to copy what other countries are doing, but to get inspiration to do something own. We will also increase funding for the sector as part of the roadmap with pleasure, » Tatiana Proskuryakova concluded.
