Preparatory work has begun on the modernization of the Lebedinovka hydroelectric power plant in Kyrgyzstan’s northern Chui region, according to state operator Chakan GES. Initial work includes the construction of temporary housing and basic site infrastructure for technical personnel before major civil works commence.
China National Heavy Machinery Corporation is serving as the general contractor under a 13.8 million euro contract awarded in February. The refurbishment will fully replace aging equipment at the plant, which has been in continuous operation since the 1940s.
The technical upgrade will increase the station’s installed generation capacity from 7.6 megawatts to 10 megawatts. Annual electricity output is projected to rise from 37.2 million kilowatt-hours to 53.5 million kilowatt-hours after commissioning.
The project is funded through European development financing, with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development providing an 8.8 million euro loan alongside a 5 million euro grant. Supervised by the Kyrgyz Ministry of Energy, the rehabilitation forms part of a broader national initiative to upgrade existing hydropower assets and reduce power generation deficits across the country.
Lebedinovka is among the oldest operating hydropower plants in the republic. Construction began in May 1942 to supply electricity to industrial facilities relocated during World War II, and the plant produced its first electricity in 1943.
