Kyrgyz Businessmen Voice Concern at “Rotated” Power Cuts

Text of report by state-owned Kyrgyz news agency Kabar

Bishkek, 28 August: A working group will be set up in Bishkek to draw up a new schedule of power cuts for Bishkek and [northern] Chuy Region, the president of the union of Kyrgyz businessmen, Chynybay Tursunbekov, told journalists at the Industry, Energy and Fuel Resources Ministry today.

“Every businessman is worried by the current energy crisis. We understand that there is an energy crisis in our republic. Unfortunately, these power cuts are affecting the country’s economy and especially businessmen. Many businessmen import equipment of quite a large capacity into Kyrgyzstan, but again our power engineers are unable to supply them with electricity in full due to the energy crisis. As a result of this, businessmen are incurring financial losses. It was precisely this issue which was discussed at today’s meeting of representatives of Kyrgyzstan’s business circles with the deputy industry, energy and fuel resources minister, Akylbek Tumenbayev,” Tursunbekov said.

He also said that most businessmen proposed introducing a special timetable [of power cuts] for mini-plants, which produce perishable products, at today’s meeting with the deputy minister.

“Rotated power cuts are affecting the economy very badly. Therefore, we think that the rotated power cuts must be carried out based on a different principle. We do not want disagreements, but we want that a painless decision be adopted for everybody,” Tursunbekov said.

The working group, which will be set up soon, will include representatives of 11 associations and unions, as well as representatives of the Industry, Energy and Fuel Resources Ministry.

The meeting with the deputy minister, Akylbek Tumenbayev, was attended by representatives of 11 associations and unions, such as the union of businessmen of Chuy Region and Bishkek, the union of builders, the association of dairy unions, the Kyrgyz-Turkish union of businessmen, an international business council and the association of fruit and vegetable companies.

Originally published by Kabar, Bishkek, in Russian 0820 28 Aug 08.

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