The International Hydropower Association has announced that the Small Hydropower Plants Association of Kyrgyzstan has joined as an affiliate member.
The Kyrgyz association is a non-profit organisation established in 2015 to support the development of hydropower in the Central Asian country.
Elvira Borombaeva, President of the Small Hydropower Plants Association, said: “Kyrgyzstan is the clean energy hub of Central Asia, and hydroelectric plants occupy a central place in our national energy system, generating more than 90 per cent of the country’s electricity. I am sure our IHA membership will support the development of the country’s hydropower potential, of which only 10 per cent has been developed to-date.”
Eddie Rich, Chief Executive of IHA, said he was delighted to welcome the association as an affiliate member. “By joining IHA, the Small Hydropower Plants Association of Kyrgyzstan will expand opportunities for its members and stakeholders to exchange knowledge and adopt international good practices.”
Hydropower is seen as playing a major role in Central Asia’s growth strategy between 2020 to 2030. In Kyrgyzstan, the sector is expected to benefit from the CASA-1000 regional interconnection project which, once complete, will help to alleviate electricity shortages and export surplus electricity to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Recent IHA engagement in Central Asia has included an in-depth study of the region’s modernisation needs in partnership with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). IHA has also represented the hydropower sector at events such as Energy Week Uzbekistan 2019.
In February this year, IHA launched a USD 1 million Hydropower Sustainability ESG Assessment Fund with support from the government of Switzerland. The first tranche of funding is available for projects in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan among other countries.
IHA membership is open to organisations and professionals with an interest in sustainable hydropower. Members gain access to an extensive network of the world’s most reputable hydropower sector organisations, active in more than 100 countries.
Through IHA’s online community and mobile app Hydropower Pro, members can connect, access specialist resources and join networks such its South and Central Asia region group.
