14:51, 11 мая 2023, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Tatyana KUDRYAVTSEVA
This year it is planned to import 500 million kilowatt-hours of electricity from Russia. The Chairman of the Board of the National Energy Holding Taalaibek Baigaziev announced at a press conference.
According to him, there was a shortage of electricity in the republic of about 2.5 billion kilowatt-hours last year. There was a lack of own generation. Previously, the consumption in the republic was 12 billion kilowatt-hours, while the generation was 14 billion kilowatt-hours. In high-water years, this surplus could be exported. But the domestic consumption has increased. Last year it was 16 billion kilowatt-hours. This year it is expected to reach 17 billion kilowatt-hours.
«We have a shortage of electricity. Therefore, we have concluded import contracts with the energy systems of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Russia and transit through the energy system of Uzbekistan. We have entered into a barter agreement. When we do not have enough electricity in winter, we take it from the energy system of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. In the summer, when we have an influx of water, we return this electricity one to one,» Taalaibek Baigaziev told.
«This year we plan to cover a deficit of 2.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity through imports. The remaining 14.5 billion will be covered by our own production by hydroelectric power stations and thermal power plants. This year we take a large volume from Turkmenistan — 1.6 billion kilowatt-hours. About 577 million kilowatt-hours were imported from Kazakhstan in January — April 2023. We signed an agreement with Russia on import of about 500 million kilowatt-hours this year and 314 million kilowatt-hours in the first quarter of the next year. We will import electricity from Turkmenistan and Russia for the first time. If there is an increase in consumption, then we will agree on an increase in imports,» he concluded.