12:43, 19 января 2023, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Aida DZHUMASHOVA
Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibraev admitted the fact of rolling blackouts in the country at a parliamentary meeting today.
According to him, if the electricity is not turned off for 1-1.5 hours, the transformers may fail.
The official added that «there has never been such a high consumption of electricity.»
«Compared to last year, consumption has grown to 20,500 million kilowatt-hours. We want to save the equipment. One 110 megavolt transformer costs $700,000-800,000. If Ala-Archa substation burns down, Bishkek will be left without electricity at all. It is known that power outages can occur throughout Central Asia,» he said.
Deputy Suyunbek Omurzakov said that power sector specialists turn off the electricity not for 2 hours, but for 5-6.
The head of the relevant department replied that if the electricity was not turned off, then people could be left without electricity for one month, since the equipment would need to be restored.
It should be noted that the maximum daily electricity consumption was recorded in Kyrgyzstan on January 12. Power sector specialists urge citizens to save electricity.