In the valley of Jalalabad, excavators honk and start, and construction roads extend on the slopes. President Zaparov of Kyrgyzstan and the Minister of Energy jointly cut the ribbon, and Türkiye Ihras Holding Company officially launched the construction of Kazarman Hydropower Station. This is the largest energy project in Kyrgyzstan's more than 30 years of independence, consisting of three power stations, 912 megawatts of installed capacity, and an investment of over 10 billion US dollars. It will go from a blueprint to a reality within six years.

Billion dollar investment covers three power stations

The Qajar Man hydropower station is not a single power station, but a cascade cluster consisting of three power stations. The installed capacity of Alabuga power station is 600 MW, Karabulun-1 power station is 149 MW, Karabulun-2 power station is 163 MW, totaling 912 MW. The project is expected to have a total investment of over 10 billion US dollars and a construction period of six years. It is planned to be completed and put into operation in 2031. At that time, the annual power generation will exceed 3.75 billion kilowatt hours, which can meet the annual electricity demand of 2 million households. This volume makes Kazarman the largest energy infrastructure project in Kyrgyzstan since independence.

Türkiye tycoons plough deep into Central Asian energy

Ihras Holding Company, headquartered in Istanbul, Türkiye, was founded in 1980, and its business covers three sectors: construction, marketing and media. In recent years, the company has shifted its strategic focus to the energy sector in Central Asia and has already laid out multiple projects in Kyrgyzstan. The total installed capacity of Kokomelun Hydropower Station is 1305 MW, which also includes three power stations. It is expected to start construction in 2027. The gas combined cycle power plant of Bishkek No.2 Thermal Power Plant has an installed capacity of at least 250 megawatts and is currently under construction. It is expected to be completed by 2028. The launch of Kazalman Hydropower Station marks the deep roots of Turkish enterprises in the energy field of Kyrgyzstan. Keywords: Central Asian news and information, hydropower station infrastructure

Electricity self-sufficiency promotes national development

Kyrgyzstan has long faced the problem of tight power supply, and the winter electricity shortage relies on imported electricity to make up for it. After the completion of the Qajar Man hydropower station, the annual power generation of 3.75 billion kilowatt hours will significantly enhance the country's self-sufficiency in electricity and reduce its dependence on electricity imports from neighboring countries. During the project construction period, it will drive local employment and infrastructure improvement. After being put into operation, it will provide stable clean electricity to support the industrial development and people's electricity demand in Kyrgyzstan. For the Central Asian region, this project will also enhance the stability of the regional energy network.Editor/Gao Xue