The President of Kyrgyzstan launched the construction of Kulanak hydroelectric power station by laying a capsule at its construction site in Kulanak village of Naryn region.
Sadyr Japarov noted that laying of the first stone and the start of construction of the Kulanak hydroelectric power station will benefit not only the region, but also the economy and power industry of Kyrgyzstan as a whole.
According to him, this is one of the important steps in history, paving the way for the future of the power industry.
He added that the country’s leadership is focusing on the development of the state’s economy through the construction of new hydroelectric power plants.
«Ensuring the energy independence and security of the country is one of our main tasks. We are making every effort to ensure that these goals do not remain only on paper. At the same time, we do not forget about the issues of preserving and passing on to future generations the beautiful nature presented by the Creator. We are studying various areas of development of renewable energy sources. Special attention is paid to the construction of small hydropower plants,» the President said.
Sadyr Japarov noted that thanks to citizens, who think about the future of the state, the people of Kyrgyzstan will live in prosperity, with ample opportunities for development, and promised to create even more conditions.
The goal is to commission a hydroelectric power station with a capacity of 100 megawatts. When completed and put into operation, the hydroelectric power station is expected to produce 450 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. Thus, the entire Naryn region will be fully provided with electricity.
According to experts, during the construction of the HPS, up to a thousand jobs will be created. After the construction is completed and the facility is put into full operation, about 100 people will get permanent jobs. The project for the construction of this facility includes a dam with a height of 27 meters, hydraulic sluices for diverting the river bed and diverting water, a diversion canal with a length of 6.5 kilometers, a power plant building with units, a water intake for irrigation of agricultural land in Uchkun, Zhan-Bulak, Emgek-Talaa, Min-Bulak, Zherge-Tal villages in Naryn district, along Naryn river.
Construction of Kulanak HPS will improve the supply of more than 5,000 hectares of agricultural land in Uchkun and Sary-Oi rural areas with irrigation water. In addition, 2,100 hectares of new land will be developed.
The Ministry of Energy is responsible for the implementation of the project.
The authorities expect to complete this project in eight years.
Sadyr Japarov noted that upon completion of the construction of Kambarata hydropower station, Kyrgyzstan will become an independent, completely self-sufficient country that does not import, but exports electricity.
«We have a deficit of 3 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year now. We are standing at the source of water, but without using it. We have not built a single hydroelectric power station in thirty years. We have started building. We use only 10 percent of the total potential. If we add other 90 percent, then we will be able to sell electricity not only to the countries of Central Asia, but also to Europe and China. God willing, we will achieve it,» he said.
The total cost of the project is $124 million, $88 million of which will be provided as loans by a group of financial institutions, including the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund and the Eurasian Development Bank.
