Tomorrow, I will travel to Ak-Tala district, and then to Kazarman, where we will lay the foundation for another small hydropower plant. Sadyr Japarov

Tomorrow, I will travel to Ak-Tala district, and then to Kazarman, where we will lay the foundation for another small hydropower plant.

The President noted that local authorities in At-Bashy district continue to search for sites to build new hydroelectric plants, adding that land selection is underway in cooperation with the regional governor.

According to the head of state, the country’s electricity demand is growing faster than new capacities are being introduced. This is driven by economic development, including the construction of factories, schools, kindergartens, social facilities, and housing.

«By the end of this year alone, we will provide housing for about 30,000 families. If we weren’t building new enterprises, schools, and homes, we would be electricity exporters today. However, demand is growing faster than we can expand capacity,» the President noted.

Sadyr Japarov also addressed widespread claims regarding the declining water levels in the Toktogul reservoir.

«In autumn they show the Toktogul reservoir and say: ‘All the water was sold.’ This is not true. On the contrary, if we had the opportunity, we would buy water ourselves to fill the reservoir,» he said.

The President explained that water levels traditionally drop in the autumn because water resources are used to irrigate the Chui region and Kazakhstan, and the reservoir fills up again in the spring. He urged citizens not to fall for attempts to politicize the issue.

According to Japarov, when he came to power, the winter electricity deficit stood at around 3 billion kilowatt-hours. It has now grown to approximately 4 billion kilowatt-hours, as the country’s economy is developing faster than its energy infrastructure.

«Only after the completion of Kambarata-1 HPP will we be able to fully overcome the deficit. This will take another seven to eight years,» he said.