Kyrgyzstan signs contracts to import 2 bln kWh of electricity from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan amid shortage

BISHKEK. Jan 17 (Interfax) - Kyrgyzstan, which faces an electricity shortage of up to 1.9 billion kilowatt-hours due to the onset of cold weather, has signed contracts with Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to import 2 billion kWh, Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Bakyt Torobayev said.

"Power consumption in the republic amounted to 15.9 billion kWh in the 2022 heating period of 2022, and in 2023 it will amount to 16.6 billion kWh. The shortage could be 1.9 billion kWh. Contracts have been signed 2 billion kWh of electricity from Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan in order to reduce it," Torobayev said on Birinchi Radio (First Radio) on Tuesday.

He said there had been record power consumption of 76 million kWh at in recent days, due to a drop in the temperature. Use of water from the Toktogul hydropower plant's reservoir has been at its highest in recent days due to this.

"Equipment at substations is operating with overloads, so I urge electricity consumers to observe the consumption regime and use electricity rationally," Torobayev said.

Over the past few days, residents of Kyrgyzstan have been complaining about intermittent power outages. The power industry denies that rolling blackouts are being introduced, saying the outages have been planned and are aimed at preventing major accidents.

Unusually cold weather set in on January 10, the temperature dropping to minus 24 in flat regions of the country and as low as minus in some mountainous regions. Kyrgyz weather forecasters say the cold weather will last until the end of the month.