A floating solar power plant with a capacity of 612 MW, consisting of two phases, will be built at the Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Plant in Kyrgyzstan. The corresponding investment agreement was signed by the head of the Republic's Ministry of Energy, Taalaibek Ibraev, with German companies during his visit to Germany, reports the ministry's press service.
The contract for the construction and operation of the floating power plant was signed on November 26. German corporations Sonnenenergie, a.s., AB Progressio GmbH, LTI ReEnergy CleanTech Project Development UG, as well as Kyrgyz JSC «SES Toktogul» and JSC «SES Toktogul KG» will participate in the project.
«The main purpose of the document is to attract investments in green energy projects of the Kyrgyz Republic, reduce dependence on electricity imports, and strengthen energy security,» states the message from the Ministry of Energy of the Central Asian republic.
The ministry's press service did not specify the cost of the project but noted that construction work will take up to four years.
As part of Ibraev's visit to Germany, a Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the Ministry of Energy and Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG. This document is aimed at researching and implementing projects in the energy sector.
In March of this year, explaining power outages in the country, Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov stated that some hydroelectric power plants need serious modernization. He cited the work at the Toktogul hydroelectric power plant as an example.
«On March 5, we took the first hydroelectric unit of the Toktogul HPP out for reconstruction. If we complete the repairs before winter, we will get an additional 60 MW. And in 2022-2023, we carried out major repairs of the second and fourth hydroelectric units. The third unit will be repaired next year. Thus, the Toktogul HPP will continue to serve the people of Kyrgyzstan for another 40-50 years,» emphasized the head of state.