Reports from CABAR.asia indicate that since late February 2024, residents across various regions of Kyrgyzstan have experienced frequent power cuts lasting 1.5-2 hours daily. These outages occur without prior warning or schedules, causing inconvenience to the population, ASIA-Plus informs on April 2.
Deputy Minister of Energy Taalaibek Baigaziyev addressed the issue at a press conference on March 4, attributing the power cuts to automation regulation works in certain districts. He highlighted a surge in electricity consumption, reaching 69-70 mn kilowatts per hour (kWh) daily, largely driven by increased heating demands amidst colder weather.
As a result of the high demand, the energy system activates load reduction automation during peak hours in the evenings. To mitigate strain on the system, the Ministry of Energy implemented measures to decrease power consumption limits for users with 'smart' single-phase and three-phase meters from 5 to 4 kilowatts and from 10 to 8 kilowatts, respectively, starting from March 5.
The issue of power restrictions was raised in parliament on March 6, with MP Elvira Surabaldiyeva expressing concerns for schoolchildren and women navigating dark streets during outages. MP Surabaldiyeva also questioned the operation of cryptocurrency mining companies amid the electricity shortage. Minister of Energy Taalbek Ibrayev stated that only one cryptocurrency mining company operates officially in Kyrgyzstan, denying allegations of providing energy to such companies.
However, MP Marat Murataliyev contested this claim, citing information suggesting the presence of 22 cryptocurrency mining companies operating in the country. Minister Ibrayev clarified that these companies source energy from Kazakhstan and pay for transit, emphasizing their status as private businesses beyond Kyrgyz regulatory control.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy proposes a 10.8% increase in electricity rates effective May 1, 2024, citing the need for additional capacity to accommodate growing demand. The proposed tariff adjustment aligns with inflation rates from the previous year and aims to address the increasing number of users, averaging 30,000 new additions annually.
Kyrgyzstan's electricity consumption has surged over the years, from over 10.3 bn kWh in 2010 to 16.5 bn kWh in 2023.
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