China is assisting Kyrgyzstan to modernize two crucial power stations at Bishkek Heating Plant, which includes the major supplier of heat and power to Bishkek city. This modernization project is a giant stride in the quest to ensure that the city has adequate and sustainable power facilities in the future. The Bishkek Heating Plant was constructed in 1961 and has been used for heating since then, meaning it is over six decades old. Nevertheless, it has also suffered from problems with old equipment and low productivity resulting in regular failures and energy blackouts.  In effect, to solve these problems, China has agreed with Kyrgyzstan to modernize the plant. The work was started in early 2023, and all the improvements are expected to be done by the end of 2024.

Over $380 million loan borrowed for modernization of the Bishkek combined heat and power plant will be repaid from the public budget, Minister of Energy Talaibek Ibraev said during the plenary session of the Parliament.

The project will concern two of the plant’s power units to be equipped with more efficient technologies to minimize emissions. Upon finished construction, the plant’s capacity will be extended by 300MW to supply the ever-growing energy needs of Bishkek, home to nearly one million people. On the economic side, the project will be important to enable the social and economic development of the country of Kyrgyzstan. In this way, the country can reduce the energy tariffs and the dependence on the import of electric power, as it now constitutes nearly 10% of the country’s overall energy consumption. The project is also anticipated to generate about 500 employment opportunities within the region in the construction process.  However, the centrifugal skeptics are ever-present; some of them fear the negative implications of this cooperation with China, for instance, Kyrgyzstan is accumulating more debts to finance this project. BRI has already been implemented in Kyrgyzstan and has deepened Beijing’s influence in the region in many different aspects. Gradually developing the project, the Bishkek Heating Plant will be used as a dominant tool for the Kyrgyzstan energy resource that will help the country support a growing population and improve the economic indicators.

Source: The Times of Central Asia, Voice of America