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The Naryn River’s working and building hydropower plants are there in the white blocks. The Naryn originates at Kyrgyzstan (depicted in yellow on the map) and flows through Uzbekistan (black area) where it is called the Syrdariya River. The red line is a Central Asian energy loop, which unites the largest power stations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. In the loop the Toktogul hydropower plant functions as a regulator of power and frequency. That is if somewhere in Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan the consumption of the electricity will dramatically fall, then the evacuation of water from the Toktogul dam will be decreased and vice versa.

This type of regulations can be done only on hydropower plants.  It is impossible to perform such regulations within a short period of time on thermal stations. The energy loop consists of thermal stations except for the Toktogul hydroelectric power plant. The whole Central Asian energy loop is completely managed from Tashkent.

Almost whole water supply for Uzbek irrigation needs is provided by the Naryn River and therefore Uzbekistan heavily depends on Kyrgyzstan. On the other hand Kyrgyzstan depends on Uzbekistan as regards the electricity distribution. That is why Kyrgyzstan is interested in building of new hydropower plants on the Naryn and the At-Bashi rivers. Hydropower potential is two times higher than the one of all currently operating Kyrgyz power plants.   In that case Uzbekistan has nothing to gain from it since the supply of irrigation water will fall down as a result of seasonality. The evacuation of water will mainly fall on winter time due to high seasonal consumption of electricity. Whereas in summer water will be accumulated in reservoirs and water level will be aligned through out all series of hydroelectric power plants.

Kazakhstan and especially China are in great need of extra Kyrgyz electricity resources. That is why they are interested in building of new hydropower plants in Kyrgyzstan. The same problems concerning water supply and hydropower plants issues Uzbekistan faces in relation to Tajikistan.

To resume, Uzbekistan is concerned with loyal Kyrgyz leaders, otherwise it will be compelled to apply drastic measures.