Erlist Akunbekov, deputy chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, recently conducted an onsite inspection of the Uch-Kurgan hydropower renovation project. China National Electric Engineering Co., Ltd. (CNEEC), a subsidiary of Sinomach, serves as the EPC general contractor for the project.

The Uch-Kurgan hydropower station [Photo/Sinomach]

As a landmark of early hydropower development in Central Asia, the Uch-Kurgan station was first built in the 1960s and CNEEC is now carrying out renovation work to modernize and revitalize the long-serving facility.

Under the upgrade plan, the project team will retrofit the station's four 45 MW Kaplan turbine units, raising per-unit installed capacity from 45 MW to 56 MW. 

Leveraging Sinomach's industrial chain synergy, a raft of the group's subsidiaries are currently involved in the project, which is being rolled out in phases. The recent successful hoisting of the third unit's stator has laid the foundations for subsequent final assembly, system commissioning and on-schedule connection to the national grid.

On completion of the upgrade, unit operation efficiency at the power plant will increase by an estimated 33%. Once fully operational, the station is expected to significantly boost Kyrgyzstan's clean energy supply and grid reliability — driving regional green, low-carbon and sustainable development.

The Uch-Kurgan hydropower station [Photo/Sinomach]

Moving forwards, the project team plans to continue to strengthen its expertise in this field of endeavor. It will build up its know-how in big hydroelectric power station technical upgrades, the operations and maintenance of overseas projects, and in localized management.

Moreover, it will leverage China's full industrial chain advantages in hydropower technology, equipment manufacturing and engineering construction.