On the banks of the Narun River in Kyrgyzstan, a "merit level" hydropower station, the Uchi Korgon hydropower station, which was built in 1962, is ushering in its "golden age" of rebirth. On April 8th, with 110 Chinese professionals on site completing the demolition of the old structure, the modernization renovation project of Units 1 and 2 officially entered the core equipment installation stage. This old power station, which has provided electricity to Kyrgyzstan for over half a century, is undergoing a leapfrog upgrade from 180 MW to 216 MW under the "surgical knife" of Chinese enterprise CNEEC (China Electric Power Engineering Corporation).

Entering the core installation phase

As a key part of the modernization of Kyrgyzstan's power system, the "replacement" project of the Uchi Korgon hydropower station has been completed by a quarter. According to the latest announcement from the "Power Station" Co., Ltd. of Kyrgyzstan, the old structures of the 1st and 2nd water turbine units have been completely dismantled and the site has been cleaned up, freeing up working space for the new units.

At present, the construction of the two units is progressing in parallel, with a tight pace:

Unit 1: Precise installation of the turbine chamber is underway, and preparations are being made for the foundation of the new power transformer;

Unit 2: The deep laser cleaning of the turbine shaft, the repair of the spiral case, and the final commissioning before the installation of the rotor pole are under way.

At the same time, the "physical fitness" of hydraulic construction is also being carried out simultaneously. The Chinese team is reinforcing the dam with cement grouting and installing a hydraulic drive device for the inlet cover downstream, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent overhaul of the entire station control system.

The leap from 180MW to 216MW

This is not the first time CNEEC has performed surgery on the power station. In 2025, the team has taken the lead in completing the renovation of Units 3 and 4, successfully increasing the total installed capacity of the power station from 180 MW to 198 MW. This year, with the completion of the renovation of Units 1 and 2, the "ultimate form" of this old power station will be set at 216 megawatts, with an overall power generation capacity increase of 20%.

This capacity expansion effect is significant. According to estimates, the single unit capacity of each unit after the renovation will increase from the original 45 megawatts to about 56 megawatts. Not only will the power generation increase, but it is also expected to provide about 100 million kilowatt hours of clean electricity to the local area every year, which is equivalent to saving tens of thousands of tons of standard coal and greatly alleviating the electricity pressure in Kyrgyzstan during winter and dry periods.

China's plan to safeguard Kyrgyzstan's energy security

The Uchi Korgon hydropower station is the "ballast stone" for Kyrgyzstan's energy security, and its transformation significance goes far beyond the data itself. The capacity expansion and renovation plan adopted by CNEEC not only replaces aging electromechanical equipment, but also extends the service life of the power station by 25 to 30 years by introducing modern control systems and reinforcing the dam structure.

This project is also a microcosm of the deepening of energy cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan. In the 2026 energy development plan of Kyrgyzstan, Chinese companies' technology and equipment are deeply involved in the cascade development from Kambalata hydropower station to Upper Naren. The smooth progress of the Uchi Korgon project has set a "model" for future cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan in the field of clean energy, allowing this over 60 year old power station to continue to shine and heat along the banks of the Nalun River.Editor/Yang Meiling