Kyrgyz Hydropower Station To Be Operational By May

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan says the first unit of the Kambarata-2 hydropower station will be operational by May, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

Albert Abazbekov, the chairman of the state company Naryngidrostroi, told RFE/RL that establishing the first unit will simplify the commissioning of the station's second and third units.

Kambarata-2 is designed to produce 360 megawatts per year.

Kyrgyz authorities plan to solve the country's chronic electricity problems by completing the Kambarata-1 and Kambarata-2 power plants, which are on the Naryn River in north-central Kyrgyzstan.

Much of Kyrgyzstan's energy is imported from Uzbekistan, which in turn is dependent on water resources emanating from Kyrgyzstan.

Uzbekistan has on several occasions in recent years stopped exporting electricity to Kyrgyzstan during the winter.

Ties between the two countries have worsened since Kyrgyzstan announced plans to build the hydropower plants.

The Uzbek government has complained that completion of the power plants on the Naryn River will reduce the amount of water Uzbekistan receives and uses for agricultural irrigation.