Russia, Kyrgyzstan coordinate feasibility study for Verkhne-Naryn HPP cascade
MOSCOW. Nov 26 (Interfax) - The board of directors at the Russian-Kyrgyz closed stock company Verkhne-Naryn (Upper Naryn) Hydroelectric Power Station has approved a feasibility study for the building of the Verkhne-Naryn hydropower cascade in Kyrgyzstan.
Project documentation says the cost of the construction will be 24 billion rubles, according to a statement issued by OJSC RusHydro , which operates the majority of Russia's hydroelectric power plants. RusHydro is the Russian partner in the project.
The financing scheme for the project was written into an intergovernmental agreement between the two countries. Russia is to invest 50% and the other 50% will be in the form of a discounted loan from Russia. Earlier, Kyrgyzstan estimated investment at $412 million. OJSC Electric Power Stations and RusHydro set up CJSC Upper Naryn HPP Cascade on a 50-50 basis. Russia will put up the money and raise loans for the construction and Kyrgyzstan will provide the rights to land use and other assets.
The Upper Naryn cascade includes four hydro power plants: Naryn HPP-1, Naryn HPP-2, Naryn HPP-3 and Akbulun HPP. The first hydro power plant should be finished in 2016 and the fourth by 2019. RusHydro says the cascade will have 237.7 megawatt capacity and generate 942.4 million kilowatt hours per year.
The feasibility study was worked up by Lenhydroproekt earlier this year.
Preparatory work for the construction was done in June. The building of the cascade's main facilities (dams, diversion channels, buildings) should begin next year.
The cascade's construction is planned to take six years, and the first hydropower facility of the main Naryn HPP-1 should be commissioned in 2016.