Power plant mishap in Kyrgyzstan cuts off heating for residences
A Wake-Up Call for Bishkek: A Major Explosion at the Thermal Power Plant
Residents of Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, experienced a chilly February 2nd, as an overnight explosion at the Bishkek TETs power plant disrupted their heating and hot water supply. This hyperactive thermal power plant, providing around 15 percent of the country's energy needs, was the culprit.
The aftermath left almost all Bishkekites without tapwater warmth, while parts of the southern city districts shivered without heating. The educational system was temporarily disrupted, with schoolchildren ordered to stay indoors as a precautionary measure.
Five employees at the power station sustained injuries due to the explosion[2]. Deputy Health Minister Mederbek Ismailov addressed the incident. Initially, various scenarios were under investigation, including potential sabotage, but later, the Prosecutor General's office deemed sabotage as unlikely and suspected improper performance of official duties and non-compliance with safety rules[3].
The power plant catastrophe alarmed the national leadership, prompting President Sadyr Japarov to jump into action. Japarov took charge of the situation and, along with numerous high-ranking officials, examined the power station[4]. Japarov reported that the accident originated in the older section of the power plant, prompting total modernization plans[4].
Unfortunately, this unfortunate event has stirred memories of the 2017 political scandal that has haunted the Bishkek TETs. Following a painful $400 million renovation, the plant faced a series of major failures, forcing many residents to endure cold days[5].
President Japarov hinted at inadequate modernization efforts by past governments, suggesting enough funds had been squandered to construct an entirely new plant instead[5]. But he offered another clarification: the incident might have happened due to the introduction of a new type of coal, Shabyrkul, which burns more potently than the previously used Kara-Keche coal[4].
"I'm not a technical expert, but I suspect that perhaps they didn't account for Shabyrkul's power," Japarov pondered. "They heated the thermal power plant as if they were using Kara-Keche coal, which is weaker. Maybe that was the cause of the explosion."
Meanwhile, Osh city experiences its share of centralized heating struggles. On February 1st, Agriculture Minister Bakyt Torobayev informed parliament that Osh was grappling with a natural gas shortage, due to a dramatic reduction in Uzbekistan's deliveries[6]. Gazprom, the Russian state-owned company managing Kyrgyzstan's gas infrastructure, explained the decreased gas supply to dwindling reserves in Uzbekistan and surging domestic consumption resulting from a cold spell[6].
Gazprom's priorities in such situations often focus on high-rise buildings, while ignoring low-rise neighborhoods of privately-owned homes, which can rely on alternative heat sources[6]. The tense competition for resources only adds to the dilemma that already plagues the residents of these cities.
- The explosion at the Bishkek TETs power plant, a major incident that disrupted the city's heating and hot water supply, has sparked concerns about the safety of Kyrgyzstan's energy infrastructure, raising questions about the adherence to safety rules and proper performance of official duties within the power sector.
- Given the recent power plant catastrophe and the memories it stirred of the 2017 political scandal, the issue of culture within the energy sector, particularly regarding modernization efforts, has become a hot topic in the realm of general-news, with President Sadyr Japarov expressing concerns over the mishandling of funds and insufficient modernization by past governments.
- As Bishkek struggles with the aftermath of the power plant explosion and seeks solutions, crime-and-justice news also becomes relevant, as investigations delve into the possible role of improper performance of official duties and non-compliance with safety rules, and potential implications for those responsible for the incident.
