Rosatom's head, Alexey Likhachev, announced that the state corporation is ready to implement small and medium-sized nuclear power plant projects in Kyrgyzstan. Negotiations with the Ministry of Energy of the republic are already underway, but the parties are deliberately not rushing to final decisions – the responsibility for entering the nuclear industry is too great.
According to Likhachev, Kyrgyz colleagues are carefully evaluating all technical, economic, and regulatory aspects of the future project. Rosatom considers this approach justified: nuclear energy requires long-term planning and a high degree of infrastructure preparation.
In order not to waste time during the approval stage, Rosatom is simultaneously launching a 100 MW wind farm project in Kyrgyzstan. A significant portion of the equipment has already been delivered to the Issyk-Kul region. Work is proceeding on schedule, and the first phase of the facility should be operational on time.
Wind energy could be a logical first step before larger-scale nuclear projects. It allows for working out interactions with local contractors, adapting logistics, and training personnel – all of which will be useful in the construction of a nuclear power plant.
Rosatom emphasizes that the choice between small and medium capacity for the future station will depend on the needs of the Kyrgyz energy system, load growth forecasts, and the results of the feasibility study. Both options are technologically available and are already being implemented by the state corporation in other countries.
