Bishkek, Oct. 21, 2021 . / Kabar / . "We are planning to get out of the energy crisis by 2024-2025," President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov said at a Republican Meeting of heads of local self-governments (LSG) and local state administrations, Kabar reported.

Addressing the meeting, Zhaparov focused on the energy problem, which now worries everyone.

"We have to speak openly. Now we receive electricity from Turkmenistan. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan also supply electricity under earlier agreements. Electricity has been imported since 2010.

Now we get a kilowatt at a price of about KGS 2. On my order, minister of energy asked people to turn off the lights during the day, to save electricity, which will save water in Toktogul HPP. We don't use this water for irrigation. Neighboring Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan use it," he said.

Zhaparov stressed that the population of Kyrgyzstan uses 90% of water to generate electricity.

"If we use it to our advantage and only for electricity, water in Toktogul will be enough for winter with excess. But from spring to winter we will have to close the reservoir completely to collect water. If we do that, the neighboring countries will be left without water in summer. A drought in neighboring countries would have serious consequences for all of us. That's why neighbors help us in terms of supplying electricity, grain and flour," he said.

The president noted that Kyrgyzstanis do not conserve electricity because of its cheap price.

“In this regard, presidential envoys in oblasts, together with local authorities should take appropriate measures on the part of budgetary institutions to ensure the efficient use of electricity.

It is also necessary to carry out explanatory work among the population in this direction. We plan to overcome the energy crisis by 2024-2025,” President Zhaparov said.