Faced with the severe test of the peak electricity consumption in the autumn and winter of 2026, Kyrgyzstan has officially launched an energy defense war. The Ministry of Energy of the country launched a nationwide power facility renovation plan in March. While carrying out large-scale systematic maintenance on aging transformers left over from the Soviet era, the first large-scale photovoltaic power station constructed by China Energy Engineering Corporation was also connected to the grid for power generation at the beginning of the year. This dual track strategy of "upgrading the old network+breaking through new energy" is becoming a key lever for Kyrgyzstan to solve the dilemma of power shortage and achieve energy independence.

Old network upgrade

In order to fundamentally solve the stubborn problem of high transmission and distribution losses and frequent faults, Kyrgyzstan Electric Power Technology Company has invested heavily in upgrading transformers in various regions in a "grid like" manner. Data shows that in addition to the key maintenance of 298 units and the addition of 38 6-10/0.4 kV transformers in the capital city of Bishkek, the project has been fully implemented in all states: Taras state plans to increase capacity by 32 units and install 10 new units; Overhaul 284 units and add 22 units in Batken state; The maintenance scale of Nalun state has reached 402 units; Jalalabad Oblast has focused on repairing 555 units and adding 14 units for repairs. In addition, Jilin State Grid Corporation will also purchase 268 new transformers in a centralized manner within the year. This hardware revolution, which lasted from March to November, aims to significantly reduce the risk of power outages during the autumn and winter peak periods.

New energy breakthrough

While consolidating the foundation of traditional thermal power and hydropower, Kyrgyzstan has achieved a historic leap in the field of new energy. At the beginning of 2026, a 100 MW photovoltaic power station located in Chuhe Prefecture was successfully connected to the grid. This is not only the country's first large-scale photovoltaic project, but also marks a substantial step towards diversifying its power structure. The project is jointly constructed by China Energy Engineering Group and adopts advanced photovoltaic technology, which not only effectively alleviates the local power shortage, but also significantly increases the proportion of clean energy. Kyrgyzstan President Zaparov personally visited the grid connection site and praised the project as an important milestone for national energy security. Keywords: electricity, energy development

The current energy strategy of Kyrgyzstan is highly targeted: solving "immediate concerns" by replacing transformers on a large scale, and responding to "long-term concerns" by introducing foreign investment and technological development of photovoltaics. With the enhancement of traditional power grid resilience and the injection of green energy, Kyrgyzstan is trying to break away from the passive situation of long-term dependence on imported electricity, providing new samples for energy stability in Central Asia.Editor/Cheng Liting