The Republic of Kyrgyzstan is accelerating the development of its own coal industry. Over the past year, production has increased by 12.6%, reaching almost 1.4 million tons in the Batken region alone. General proven coal reserves in the country amount to 0.8 billion tons. The authorities hope that this will reduce dependence on imports and eliminate chronic electricity shortages.
The key project is the construction of three coal thermal power plants with a total capacity of 1050 megawatts. The main facility will be located at the Kara-Keche deposit, where the main reserves of brown coal are concentrated. The first stage involves the launch of two 300 megawatt blocks. By April 2026, the project moved from long-term plans to practical implementation.
Two additional stations with a capacity of 200–300 megawatts each are planned in the south of the republic. One of them should improve the energy supply in the Batken and Osh regions, the other should be located near the coal mines of the Jalal-Abad region.
The construction of a thermal power plant at Kara-Keche is inseparable from the construction of the Balykchy-Kochkor-Kara-Keche railway line. This line is needed for the delivery of building materials, equipment and future fuel. Laying of tracks is already underway on the first 63-kilometer section from Balykchy to Kochkor. The full completion of the “construction of the century” will transform the remote field into a modern industrial cluster.
Involved in cooperation Russian design institutes — they advise on the modernization of old coal blocks and the design of new ones. Inter RAO (design and turbines), Power Machines (generators and boilers adapted for local brown coal), Tyazhpromexport (turnkey construction) and Gazprombank (financing) expressed interest in the construction of coal-fired generation. However, Russian companies face intense competition from Chinese state corporations.
Kara-Keche coal belongs to grade B (brown) with a high content of volatile substances. This makes it an effective fuel for energy, but requires special storage conditions due to its tendency to spontaneous combustion. Most Russian boilers, originally designed for Kansk-Achinsk brown coals, operate well on this fuel.
The development of the coal industry and the construction of new thermal power plants is a strategic step towards energy independence of Kyrgyzstan. The implementation of the projects will help eliminate the deficit, create thousands of jobs, attract investment and strengthen partnerships with Russia and China.
Source: @cdutek
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