Kyrgyzstan: The rotating outage is effective again as of October 1
As of October 1, Kyrgyzstan launches rotating outages of electricity. This was announced on September 22 by Ilias Davydov, the Minister of Industry, Energy and Fuel, at the session of the committee for fuel and energy sector and subsoil use of Jogorku Kenesh (the parliament of Kyrgyzstan), 24.kg news agency reports.
The time of general rolling blackouts is 24.00-5.00 except for such social targets as schools and hospitals and small and medium enterprises.
According to Mr. Davydov, the energy limitation in 2009-2010 season will reach 18 percent, twice as less as last season. Such situation is reasoned by increasing volume of water in the Toktogul reservoir. «We are planning to reach 7.5 billion cubic meters of water by April of 2010. This will allow us totally avoiding rotating outages in 2010», Ilias Davydov forecasts. He believes that low-water season will end in the next 3 years and the maximum water accumulation in the volume of 16-17 billion cubic meters will become possible by 2013-2014.
It has to be mentioned that last year electricity shortage in Kyrgyzstan reached 2.6 billion kilowatt/hours. The residents in rural areas were buying coal and baking livestock manure (following the advice of President Kurmanbek Bakiev). The Energy Minister conducted rotating outages in autumn throughout the country in order to save electricity for winter; however, it was not possible to ensure its uninterrupted supply in winter period. The population (particularly in rural areas) had no access to electricity for about 8-10 hours per day. At the end of February the problem deteriorated in concern with temporary cessation of Kazakhstan’s participation in the parallel work with united energy system of Central Asia. Visit Water issues, Ferghana.Ru special project, for details.