Although one could ignore the words of the former president, this topic is too important — winter is approaching, and the Ministry of Energy is calling for electricity conservation, promising outages. Meanwhile, Atambayev, while in warm Spain, is adding fuel to the fire, "heating up" the discussion on social media.
However, behind his loud statements lies a multitude of contradictions that require careful analysis.
Selective Memory or Retrospective
During Atambayev's presidency, significant infrastructure projects were indeed implemented, such as the "Datka — Kemin" line and the reconstruction of the Bishkek CHPP (everyone remembers the pliers costing $600). However, it is worth noting that these projects were not developed by his team. Nevertheless, they played an important role in strengthening the country's energy independence.But to claim that Kyrgyzstan's energy sector experienced its "golden age" under Atambayev would be extremely exaggerated.
A multitude of systemic problems, such as high loss levels, opaque tariffs, insufficient modernization of equipment, and staff turnover, not only remained unresolved but also worsened. Atambayev was fortunate: his presidency coincided with favorable hydrological years when the water level in the Toktogul reservoir was sufficient. The country's economy and construction sector developed slowly, leading to lower domestic demand and electricity consumption. Thus, the problems of "Atambayev's energy" went unnoticed by the general public, although professionals were well aware of them.
Comparing the Energy Sector of 2025 with 2013
First of all, it is impossible to compare the current situation with the state of affairs ten years ago. However, Atambayev's goal was not to create an honest picture. And by stating that everything was better under his rule, he omitted the fact that electricity consumption in the country has increased by tens of percent in recent years. The level of urbanization has risen, new industrial consumers have emerged, and the IT sector has begun to develop. Meanwhile, the climate is changing, the number of hot days is increasing, the water level in the Toktogul reservoir is decreasing, and inflows are becoming unstable.All of this puts pressure on the energy system, regardless of who is in power.
The problem lies not in "poor management," as Atambayev tries to present, but in the fact that the energy system has long operated without a strategic reserve of resilience. This legacy is not the result of one government but of the entire political tradition of the last twenty years, including Atambayev's presidency.
The number of small and medium hydropower plants built in recent years significantly exceeds the figures from his time in office. Moreover, the energy sector has begun to develop along a new path with a clear understanding of the necessary projects to ensure system stability and compensate for shortcomings, including the use of renewable resources. But Atambayev does not mention this.
Political Manipulations
The post published by Atambayev is clearly not dedicated to analysis but rather to politics. His text is filled with emotions and accusations, but lacks specific proposals. For example, he criticizes electricity exports and the development of mining but does not offer alternatives to compensate for the industry's missing revenues. While criticizing the minister, he does not address technical solutions such as modernization or tariff reforms.This approach merely turns the crucial topic of energy into a tool for political disputes.
As a result, everyone loses: specialists, citizens, and the system itself, not to mention Atambayev.
First of all, the internet remembers everything, and no matter how much Atambayev wants to present himself as the savior of Kyrgyzstan's energy system, a simple search is enough to see where the truth lies and where public opinion is being manipulated. Secondly, when a politician from the past calls to "return everything to the way it was," he inevitably evokes nostalgia. But nostalgia, especially when combined with resentment, is a poor advisor in economics.
In conclusion, Atambayev's post leaves a strange aftertaste, evoking both disgust and pity for a person who, instead of wisdom, once again demonstrates pettiness and vindictiveness.
