The issue of restoring the operation of the Central Asian Power System is being considered

The issue of restoring the parallel operation of the Integrated Power  System (IPS)  is being considered by the Tajik side with the neighboring countries - Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan said.

The IPS of Central Asia was formed during the USSR period as a single energy complex of a large economic region.

A ring main of 500 kV, as a connecting link of the IPS, was built passing through the territory of four republics - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

According to a representative of the ministry, currently the Unified Energy System (UPS) of Kazakhstan is operating in parallel with the IPS of Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan).

According to the system operator of Kazakhstan - KEGOC JSC, the unsettled balance of electricity production and consumption in the IPS of Central Asia in 2009 has repeatedly led to overloading and emergency shutdowns of 500 kV North-South communication lines in Kazakhstan.

This was accompanied by deep restrictions on electricity consumption in all parallel operating energy systems and disruptions in the economic and social sphere of Central Asia, the ministry said.

It was noted that in this regard, at the end of October 2009, the Uzbek power system cut off the 500 kV communication lines with the Tajik power system.

“At present, the power system of Tajikistan operates in an isolated mode from the power system of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan). In this regard, the issue of restoring parallel work is being worked out by the Tajik side with neighboring countries - Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan”, the ministry said.

It was noted that the UPS of Kazakhstan fully meets the needs of the economy and the population in electricity, and there is no need of electricity supplies from the energy systems of the IPS of Central Asia.

"Kazakhstan is open to consideration of the prospects for cooperation with the countries of Central Asia in terms of exporting electricity to neighboring states (upon receipt of an appropriate proposal and the availability of technical capabilities) with the resumption of full-fledged operation of the common power ring in Central Asia," the ministry said.