BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 26. Russian Rosatom (State Atomic Energy Corporation) plans to build a large number of small hydroelectric power plants with a total capacity of up to 400 MW in Kyrgyzstan, Deputy Minister of Energy Taalaibek Baigaziev said within the framework of the ATOMEXPO-2024 forum in Sochi (Russia), Trend reports.
According to the deputy minister, the initial capacity of small HPPs is 24 MW, but in general, the Chandalash River can support up to 400 MW—24 MW.
"Overall, we have the geography to build numerous small hydropower plants. The construction period is very small, just 1.5–2 years," he said.
Taalaibek Baigaziev mentioned that Rosatom plans to launch Kyrgyzstan's first 24-MW small hydropower plant on the Chandalash River in 2025.
"It is probably planned to be launched next year. The approximate cost is $1,000 per kilowatt of capacity. Rosatom itself finances the money, and then joint operations, through the tariff, return the financing," he added.
Earlier, General Director of Rusatom Service JSC Evgeny Salkov said that Kyrgyzstan has enormous potential for the development of small hydropower spheres and the construction of hydroelectric power plants.
Meanwhile, in 2022, Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Energy signed a memorandum of cooperation with Rosatom for the construction of a small nuclear power plant using the RITM-200 reactor in Kyrgyzstan. Later, it was announced that this involves the construction of one or several small nuclear power stations, each with a capacity of 55 megawatts.