Currently, the capital is facing an electricity shortage. At the meeting held on November 17, Mayor Aibek Junushaliev reported that the electricity consumption limit is 10 million 45 kWh per day, while actual consumption reaches 11 million 133 thousand kWh. With the introduction of a limit of 3 kWh per household, as well as restrictions for government institutions and cafes and restaurants, Bishkek has managed to stay within the established limits for the first time in a long time. However, residents are concerned about what will happen in the future when all the new construction projects are completed and the apartments are occupied.
The issue of electricity shortage has become particularly relevant with the start of construction of the "Altai" town, which plans to build 1,500 five-story buildings.
Previously, the city hall announced plans to modernize the thermal power plant and produce electricity from waste. Nevertheless, such volumes are unlikely to meet the growing needs of the city.
Journalists asked officials how the "Altai" town and other large residential projects would receive electricity.
Akimov noted that the electricity shortage is a problem not only for Bishkek but for all of Kyrgyzstan and neighboring countries.
"Kyrgyzstan is connected to the unified electricity supply system of Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. We have many projects on the horizon that should help solve the electricity shortage problem. These projects include the Kambar-Ata Hydropower Plant, the construction of 50 small hydropower plants in the republic, and their integration into the overall network. These large infrastructure initiatives should address the issue. This is not just a Bishkek problem, but a problem for all of Central Asia," Akimov added.
However, journalists emphasized that the implementation of such projects takes time, while developers promise to complete housing construction in the coming years.
"Residential complexes will be commissioned in stages. One should not expect that 'Altai' will be built in five years and that 30 thousand families will settle there immediately. Everything will happen gradually. Next year, the launch of 15 small hydropower plants is planned. The president also mentions the construction of the Kambar-Ata HPP-1. All of this will be carried out within the framework of a general strategy. In the general plan of Bishkek, tasks are distributed into short-term, medium-term, and long-term periods," Akimov explained.
