Kyrgyzstan: Power Cuts Expected By August Due To Low River Levels

Kyrgyz officials have announced that power cuts are expected throughout the country this summer due to low river levels. Power cuts could begin as early as August, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Industry, Energy and Fuel Resources has told Ferghana.ru.

The low waters have resulted in the inability to replenish the country’s largest reservoir, the Toktogul, where hydroelectric stations generate more than 40% of the nation’s electricity.

Currently, water in the Toktogul reservoir is said to have dropped to a critically low level due to the extremely large discharges of water to produce electricity during this year’s unusually cold winter.

The Ministry has also warned the population to prepare for autumn and winter electricity cuts by purchasing coal and mazut earlier than usual. Officials have also said household electric heaters will be switched off to save electricity by August 1 of this year.

The lack of water in the region’s main rivers pose serious problems for surrounding Central Asian states who find it difficult to reach compromises over water usage during irrigation periods in the summer, and storing water in the winter.

The issue is so contentious that the July 9-10 regional meeting to discuss the joint utilization of trans-border rivers nearly collapsed when Uzbekistan refused to sign a four-party treaty prepared beforehand.

The meeting was held in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek.

Source: Ferghana.ru

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