The Minister of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic Taalaibek Ibraev personally inspected the progress of construction of the Orto-Tokoy hydroelectric power station, which is being built near the city of Balykchy. This facility is one of the key ones for strengthening the energy infrastructure of the Issyk-Kul region.
Currently, the implementation of the ambitious project has reached 60% of the total volume of planned work. Construction is being carried out in strict accordance with the approved schedule, the Ministry of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic reports. A significant block of preparatory and main work has already been fully completed: both temporary and permanent access roads to hydroelectric power station facilities have been built, a construction camp has been fully equipped, including warehouses for storing materials, as well as facilities for mortar concrete units, expansion blocks and power supply systems for the construction site. 928 meters were drilled in an important section of the diversion tunnel, designed to supply water to the turbines. In addition, the delivery and installation of the outlet channel valves was carried out, and three suction pipe cones – one for each of the three future hydraulic units were installed.
Currently, Chinese builders (construction is being carried out by China National Machinery Industry Corporation) are focused on reinforcement and formwork work in the premises of the future operational management of the hydroelectric power station, on the installation site and in the RU-10 kV switchgear. The time-consuming process of installing steel supports inside the diversion tunnel continues. Significant progress has been made in obtaining all the necessary permits for the construction of the PS-110/10 kV substation, and active preparations are currently underway to begin construction work on this site. In parallel, the process of coordinating with the mayor’s office of the city of Balykchy on the issues of land allocation for a high-voltage power transmission line of a 110 kV overhead line, which will connect the station with the common energy system, continues.
During his visit, Taalaibek Ibraev especially emphasized the critical importance of strict adherence to the established construction work schedule. The minister also paid close attention to safety issues during all construction operations, especially those related to the use of lifting equipment, emphasizing their paramount importance for preserving the life and health of workers.
The capsule laying ceremony at the construction site of the Orto-Tokoy hydroelectric power station, the designed installed capacity of which will be 21 MW, took place on June 29, 2024. A year after the actual start of the project, the completion of about 60% of the total volume of construction work indicates strict adherence to the plans, the Ministry of Energy notes. The total planned construction period for the hydroelectric power station is 24 months. It is expected that after the Orto-Tokoy hydroelectric power station is put into operation, which is scheduled for the first half of 2026, the station will be able to provide reliable power supply to more than 14 thousand subscribers in the city of Balykchy and adjacent settlements.
