Published
03/31/2026, 16:10The Kyrgyz Ministry of Energy has announced a tender for engineering and geological surveys worth 21 million KGS. The work is necessary to prepare for the construction of the ‘Lower Tar’ and ‘Bystrovskaya’ small hydropower plants.
The projects are being implemented as part of the KRED programme, funded by the World Bank. In December 2025, the ministry signed a contract with the Chinese company QingYuan Engineering Consultants Ltd. to develop a feasibility study for both plants.
The surveys include geological and geophysical investigations, which will enable an assessment of soil conditions, site stability and potential construction risks.
The development of small hydropower plants in Kyrgyzstan has accelerated in recent years and has become one of the key priorities of energy policy.
In 2025, eight small hydropower plants with a total capacity of around 44.6 MW were commissioned in the country. At the same time, construction is continuing on dozens of projects — 37 plants were previously reported.
In 2026, a further 13 small hydropower plants with a combined capacity of over 80 MW are scheduled to be commissioned. Plans have also been announced to launch at least 17 new projects in the coming years.
Previously, Akchabar noted that the heavy reliance on hydropower does not eliminate systemic risks for Kyrgyzstan’s power system, including dependence on water availability and seasonal fluctuations in generation.
