In the structure of electricity generation in Kyrgyzstan, the main share is occupied by hydroelectric power plants (90%), the main of which are located in the south of the country. The country’s main five hydroelectric power stations are located on the Naryn River with an installed capacity of 2,860 MW — Toktogul, Kurpsai, Tashkumyr, Shamaldysai and Uch-Kurgan. The main problem — they were all built in Soviet times, that is, a long time ago. The main and powerful stations are being modernized using donor funds in order to at least slightly increase their capacity and extend their service life. The publication Kaktus.media has collected basic information about hydroelectric power plants, where the bulk of electricity is generated in Kyrgyzstan:

Uch-Kurgan hydroelectric power station

This is the first hydroelectric power station built on the Naryn River. The first unit of the hydroelectric power station was launched on December 30, 1961. It is this date that is considered the birthday of the Uch-Kurgan hydroelectric power station. In June 1964, a state commission accepted the station into operation.

Uch-Kurgan hydroelectric power station — the first in terms of construction time, but the last stage of the Naryn cascade of hydroelectric power stations. Its construction created the preconditions for the construction of the following stations on the Naryn River. The installed capacity of the facility is — 180 MW, and the average annual electricity generation is — 820 million kWh.

Since last year, work has been underway to reconstruct the station. This is the first time this has happened since construction. After reconstruction, the capacity of each hydraulic unit will increase by 9 MW, and the total capacity of the hydroelectric power station will increase to 216 MW. The project is scheduled to be completed this year. The total cost of the project is estimated at $160 million, including grants and loans from the Asian Development Bank and the Eurasian Development Bank.

Toktogul hydroelectric power station

Toktogul hydroelectric power station, the flagship of the energy system of Kyrgyzstan, is the most powerful power plant in our country, its total capacity is 1,320 MW, and its average annual output is — 5.5-6 billion kWh.

Construction of the Toktogul hydroelectric power station began in 1962 and was put into operation in 1975. This station is distinguished by unusual design solutions, such as a gravity concrete dam curved towards the downstream, and an engine room with a two-row arrangement of hydraulic units.

Since 2017, work has been underway at the Toktogul hydroelectric power station to reconstruct and modernize the station. According to plans, all four units of the station will be gradually replaced. It is expected that due to this work, the life of the station will be extended for another 30-40 years, and its capacity will also increase. The project is financed by the Asian and Eurasian Development Banks. Completion of the reconstruction and increase in the station’s capacity to 1,440 MW is scheduled for November 2025.

Kurpsai hydroelectric power station

It is the second most powerful hydroelectric power station in the country. Construction of the Kurpsai hydroelectric power station began in 1975 due to the decline in work on the construction of the Toktogul hydroelectric power station located upstream. In 1985, the Naryn River was blocked. The first hydraulic unit of the station was launched on February 21, 1981, the second — on December 19, 1981, the third — on April 15, 1982, the fourth — on November 4, 1982

The station has four hydraulic units with a capacity of 200 MW each. The installed capacity of the plant is 800 MW and the average annual output is — 2.63 billion kWh. No large-scale work on the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the station is currently being carried out.

Tashkumyr hydroelectric power station

The Tashkumyr hydroelectric power station was built on the Naryn River and is located on the border of the Nookensky and Aksy districts, 18.5 km below the Kurpsai hydroelectric complex. The station is located in a narrow mountain valley, where the width of the channel is 50-80 m.

Construction of this hydroelectric power station began in 1981, when the construction of the Kurpsai hydroelectric power station was completed. In 1985, the Naryn River was blocked. The first hydraulic unit of the station was launched on December 22, 1985, the second — on August 30, 1986 and the third on September 30, 1987. In 2001, the Tashkumyr hydroelectric power station was brought to its design capacity of 450 MW. In 2017, the State Acceptance Commission of the Tashkumyr Hydroelectric Power Station was put into operation.

The installed capacity of the station is 450 MW, the average annual output is — 1.6 billion kWh. This year, the Tashkumyr hydroelectric power station is undergoing major and current repairs of three hydraulic units.

Shamaldysai hydroelectric power station

The Shamaldysai hydroelectric power station was built on the Naryn River, 14 km below the Tashkumyr hydroelectric power station. Construction of the hydroelectric power station began in February 1986, when construction at the Tashkumyr hydroelectric power station was being completed. The first hydraulic unit of the station was launched on July 1, 1992, the second — on February 12, 1994 and the third on December 30, 1995.

The station reached its design capacity of 450 MW only in 2002. In 2018, a standard gantry crane was installed, replacing temporary lifting mechanisms designed to maneuver the station’s gates. The station has not been officially completed.

The design capacity of the station is 240 MW, average annual output — 0.9 billion kWh.

Kambar-Ata HPP-2

It was planned that Kambar-Ata HPP-2 would be part of the cascade of Kambar-Ata HPPs. Construction of the station began in 1986. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, construction was practically stopped. Full-scale construction of the Kambar-Ata HPP-2 resumed only in 2008 at the expense of the republic’s own funds.

The launch of the first unit of Kambar-Ata HPP-2 with a capacity of 120 MW took place on November 27, 2010. The design installed capacity of Kambar-Ata HPP-2 with three units is 360 MW, 120 MW each. Work on installing the second unit of the station is planned to be completed by 2029.

At-Bashi hydroelectric power station

At-Bashinskaya HPP is located on a tributary of the Naryn River and is located at an altitude of 2,000 meters. The installed capacity of the At-Bashi HPP at the end of 2023 corresponds to the design data and amounts to 45.6 MW.

Until the end of 2020, four hydraulic units were installed at the power plant with an installed capacity of 10 MW each, with an average annual output of 130-160 million kWh. As part of the project «Reconstruction of the At-Bashinskaya HPP», all four units of the station with a capacity of 11.44 MW each were replaced between 2020 and 2022.

Construction of the hydroelectric power station began in 1964. The At-Bashi River was closed in November 1965, and all hydraulic units of the station were put into operation in December 1970.