The leadership of Kyrgyzstan is actively looking for ways to develop the country’s energy sector, relying on hydropower, which is often positioned as «green». President Sadyr Japarov met with Ahmet Mujahid Oren, representing the large Turkish company İhlas Holding. The central topic of discussion was the implementation of joint energy projects involving Turkish capital. Particular attention is paid to plans for the construction of large hydroelectric power plants, which raises natural concerns in terms of the potential impact on Kyrgyzstan’s fragile mountain ecosystems.
President Zhaparov assures that favorable conditions are being created in the republic for investors who want to invest in so-called «green energy» facilities. However, environmentalists emphasize that it is necessary to critically assess whether the creation of these «favorable conditions» will lead to a weakening of environmental standards and examinations, which is unacceptable when implementing large-scale infrastructure projects that can irreversibly change natural landscapes and water regimes of rivers.
The current negotiations are a continuation of previously reached agreements. Back in December last year, following the visit of the President of Turkey, a framework agreement was signed between the Ministry of Energy of Kyrgyzstan and OJSC «Central Asian Investment Holding». It is worth noting that this holding company was established by the Turkish İhlas Holding specifically to work on projects in Kyrgyzstan, which indicates the seriousness of the investor’s intentions in developing the country’s hydropower potential.
The President of Kyrgyzstan confirmed that he is aware of the completion of the stage of research work in the areas where the construction of the Alabuginskaya hydroelectric power station is planned, as well as the cascade of Karabulun hydroelectric power stations (1 and 2) in the Jalal-Abad region. This work was carried out by OJSC «Central Asian Investment Holding» in cooperation with the local design institute «Kyrgyzhydroproekt». The head of state characterized these future construction projects as large investment projects where the use of «innovative technical solutions» is expected. However, it remains an open question to what extent these solutions actually minimize the anthropogenic pressure on the environment, including the conservation of biodiversity, the prevention of soil erosion and changes in the microclimate associated with the creation of large reservoirs.
Let us recall that the construction of dams and hydroelectric power stations, especially in seismically active mountain regions, inevitably entails a whole range of environmental problems: flooding of land, changes in the hydrological regime of rivers, disruption of fish migration routes, impact on sedimentation and water quality. It is necessary to conduct a comprehensive and independent environmental assessment before the start of any construction, as well as a broad public dialogue to assess all the risks and long-term consequences of the implementation of such ambitious hydropower plans for the nature of Kyrgyzstan.
