BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 10. Kyrgyzstan's Bishkek TPP-1 will switch from coal to natural gas starting from 2027, Arzymat Aldayarov, Deputy General Director for Economics and Finance at Gazprom Kyrgyzstan, said at a press briefing, Trend reports.
Aldayarov confirmed that a gas supply contract has already been signed, paving the way for the plant’s conversion. Once the transition is complete, TPP-1 is expected to consume over 500 million cubic meters of natural gas annually—an amount equivalent to Kyrgyzstan’s current total gas consumption.
He noted that since Gazprom began operating in Kyrgyzstan, national gas consumption has already risen from 209 million to approximately 530 million cubic meters annually.
"We have a signed agreement with government bodies, including the Ministry of Energy, stating that once the reconstruction of facilities such as TPP-2 and Bishkekselmash power station is completed, they will operate on natural gas. We are currently working to prepare our networks for connection," he added.
Gazprom Kyrgyzstan is also evaluating the possibility of building new gas-based power generation units on the TPP-1 site. While existing coal-fired boilers can be converted to run on gas—and in some cases perform even better—they are less economically efficient than modern combined-cycle gas turbines.
"If we secure the necessary funding, we will build new gas-fired units. If not, we’ll still use gas in the existing systems, which will contribute to better air quality in the capital," Aldayarov explained.
