On March 5, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Zhaparov addressed citizens in connection with the construction of small hydroelectric power stations. The appeal was published on the president’s social network account. Rivers.Help! publishes the full text of the President’s address:
«Dear compatriots!
Today, 40 small hydroelectric power stations operate throughout the republic.
The electricity produced is 312.5 million kWh.
Construction of 37 small hydroelectric power stations has also begun across the country.
In 2025, another 18 small hydroelectric power stations will be put into operation, the total production volume will be 385 million 200 kWh.
Construction of solar and wind stations with a total capacity of 5624 MW begins.
We have the capacity to generate 142 billion kWh of electricity, but today we produce only 14 billion kWh.
We use only 10% of our potential.
The water just leaks out in vain.
I would like to say that in regions where small hydroelectric power stations are being built en masse, obstacles are being created by the local population.
Cases of road closures and interference with builders under the pretext «you pollute our water» have been recorded.
Dear compatriots!
We – a country at the source of water resources, but at the same time import 3 billion kWh of electricity.
The price of imported electricity is 3 soms 50 tyiyns per 1 kWh.
Currently, electricity is supplied to the population at a price of 1 som 11 tiyyns.
The difference of 2 soms of 39 tiyyns is subsidized from the republican budget.
Today this costs 8.5 billion soms.
This money – is the funds of every Kyrgyz citizen received by the budget from taxes.
To eliminate this crisis, since 2021 we have started building small and medium-sized hydroelectric power stations en masse.
In addition, construction of a hydroelectric power station begins «Kambar-Ata 1».
All this is done in order to avoid imports, provide ourselves with our own electricity and export surpluses.
Being at the source of water resources, purchasing electricity from other countries – is a great shame.
Therefore, I urge every representative of local authorities to facilitate the construction of small hydroelectric power stations as much as possible, be they private or public.
I also appeal to local residents – do not interfere with construction.
Work is being carried out during the day.
In the morning, while the water is not yet polluted, stock up on clean water.
Suffer temporary inconvenience for three months.
Construction will last a maximum of three months. But the constructed hydroelectric power stations will serve our state, you and future generations all your life.
Therefore, do not interfere with construction by arbitrariness.
Let’s take care of the future generation».
