Kyrgyzstan Switches On 175 MW of Solar Capacity as Central Asia’s Largest PV Project Takes Shape

On June 14, 2026, Kyrgyzstan marked a pivotal moment in its energy transition. President Sadyr Japarov officiated the commissioning ceremony for the first phase of the ROX Issyk-Kul solar power plant in the village of Kyzyl-Oruk, on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. With an initial capacity of 175 megawatts-peak (MWp), this first phase represents not merely a new power plant, but the opening chapter of what will become Central Asia's largest solar energy facility - a 1,900 MW colossus that is set to reshape the region's energy landscape.

The data supporting this project are impressive. Phase one alone resulted in an investment worth $131 million, $80 million of which was spent before commissioning. Construction began in October 2025, and in just eight months from then, the 175 MW phase was completed and connected to the grid, marking a new standard for the area that was achieved by Developer ROX Energy Global, which is part of Vietnam's ROX Group. A 110 kV high voltage substation and transmission infrastructure are already part of the facility.

The overall project size will significantly increase when all phases are completed; the ROX Issyk-Kul plant will have an operating capacity of 1,900 MW making it the second-largest power generating facility in Kyrgyzstan, following Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Station. The overall investment for all phases is projected to be between $1.4 billion and $1.5 billion with the ability to generate 3.3 billion kWh of renewable energy each year at maximum operating capacity.

For Kyrgyzstan, a country whose energy sector has historically been dominated by hydropower, this project carries profound strategic weight. The nation faces a persistent electricity deficit - estimated at 3.5 to 4.5 billion kWh in recent years - that has forced reliance on costly imports. The ROX Issyk-Kul plant directly addresses this vulnerability. Once fully operational, it will provide a substantial and diversified source of baseload-capable power that reduces the country's dependence on hydroelectric generation, which is increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and water scarcity.

President Japarov mentioned this message when he conducted the commissioning of the new plant. He stated that the first stage of the project will be able to save up to 362 million cubic metres of water from the Toktogul storage tank, the largest in Kyrgyzstan. When completed, the entire facility, which will be able to produce 1,900 MW of energy, should be able to save approximately 3.9 billion cubic meters of water per year. Since water is becoming a scarce and easily contested resource in this part of the world, these benefits to the country are not secondary; they are essential to the long-term sustainability of Kyrgyzstan.

Another very important feature of the new facility is the integrated energy storage system, which will allow the facility to store energy generated from the facility and provide the stored energy when the demand for that energy is highest. This is in keeping with recent changes to the Law "On Renewable Energy Sources," which require that all newly-built solar and wind facilities have energy storage of at least 30% of their installed capacity. The ROX Issyk-Kul facility also exhibits technical foresight, but it also meets the regulatory requirements established by the Kyrgyz government, demonstrating to the international investment community that Kyrgyzstan has the desire to create a state-of-the-art, resilient energy infrastructure.

The project's benefits extend well beyond the transmission lines. During construction of the first phase, over 250 Kyrgyz citizens were employed. Upon full operation, the plant is expected to create approximately 150 permanent jobs, the majority of which will be filled by local specialists. ROX Group has also committed to transferring 1% of revenue from electricity sales to the budgets of the Toru-Aigyr and Tamchy local communities, in addition to mandatory land-use payments. This revenue-sharing model, increasingly common in large-scale renewable projects, ensures that host communities share directly in the economic benefits of energy development.

The project also signals Kyrgyzstan's growing investment attractiveness. President Japarov emphasized at the ceremony that the implementation of the ROX Issyk-Kul plant confirms the high level of trust international partners have in the republic. The partnership with Vietnam's ROX Group - a diversified conglomerate with three decades of experience - demonstrates that Kyrgyzstan is successfully attracting foreign direct investment into its energy sector, diversifying its portfolio of international partners beyond traditional sources.

The ROX Issyk-Kul plant is not an isolated achievement but part of a broader, accelerating shift in Kyrgyzstan's energy mix. According to the Ministry of Energy, infrastructure is currently being prepared to connect additional solar projects with a total capacity of 700 MW to the national grid, including the Bishkek Solar and Fortis KG facilities. The country has already signed renewable energy agreements totaling over 5 GW of capacity, with multiple Chinese, Vietnamese, and Middle Eastern firms participating in the rapidly expanding market. Kyrgyzstan's newly enacted Renewable Energy Law, which took effect in April 2026, has introduced clearer rules on bidding mechanisms, grid connection, and land use, providing a more stable regulatory framework for future investments.

The newly commissioned 1st 175 MW from the ROX Issyk-Kul Solar Facility (ISFF) represents more than just an engineering feat. It is a statement of good intent. After decades of relying heavily on hydropower to supply electricity needs, and suffering chronic deficits in that supply, this project will provide Kyrgyzstan with a significant measure of diversification, energy security, and sustainability.

The speed of construction and commissioning of the facility (8 months from breaking ground to connection to the grid) demonstrates that large renewable projects can be constructed in a timely manner, when there is co-ordination between the government, international funding, technical expertise, and the solar energy industry.

When the subsequent phases are completed (adding an additional 450 MW in 2027 and 1,300 MW in 2028), the ROX Issyk-Kul facility will be the largest solar plant in Central Asia, as well as a cornerstone of a green energy future for Kyrgyzstan. In a region where energy security is connected to geopolitical and ecological issues, this project provides evidence of the capacity of renewable energy sources to assist local communities succeed economically, and decrease Kyrgyzstan's vulnerability to strategic threats while producing tangible benefits for local citizens, and providing for a cleaner and more resilient future.