Modernization work on the first two power units at the Uch-Kurgan hydroelectric plant in Kyrgyzstan has reached the 25 percent completion mark. The project is part of a broader national program to upgrade the country’s energy infrastructure, managed by the Ministry of Energy and the state-owned utility Electric Power Plants. China National Electric Engineering Company (CNEEC) serves as the general contractor for this phase, with approximately 110 specialists currently working at the site.
Engineers have finished dismantling the original equipment on both units and are proceeding with the installation of new components. On the first unit, technical teams are positioning the turbine runner chamber and preparing foundations for power transformers and auxiliary systems. The second unit is undergoing rotor assembly and the installation of new piping networks, while laser technology is being used to clean the metal surfaces of the turbine shaft.
Civil engineering work on the dam structure includes grouting operations and the installation of modern hydraulic drives for the water intake systems. These components replace aging infrastructure to improve the structural integrity and operational stability of the facility. Once the new control systems are calibrated, the station will begin the process of integrating the upgraded units into the national grid.
The upgrade of these two units follows the previous modernization of the third and fourth units, which increased the capacity of the plant from 180 to 198 megawatts. The completion of the current phase is expected to add another 18 megawatts, bringing the total installed capacity of the Uch-Kurgan station to 216 megawatts by the end of the year. This expansion is designed to improve the reliability of the Kyrgyz power system and support growing regional electricity demand.
