Kyrgyzstan President launches 30MW waste-to-energy project

Kyrgyzstan has commissioned Central Asia’s first waste-to-energy facility at the Bishkek municipal landfill, marking a major step toward addressing the country’s waste management and energy needs. The eco-technology plant converts solid household waste into electricity and is expected to play a transformative role in improving environmental conditions in the capital.

Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Zhaparov inaugurated the facility, describing it as a first-of-its-kind project for the Central Asian region. Once fully operational, the plant will be capable of processing up to 365,000 tonnes of municipal waste annually and generating 30 megawatts of electricity. The project aims to reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills while simultaneously contributing to Bishkek’s power supply.

According to the Kyrgyzstan President’s press service, the plant has been developed under an investment agreement signed in 2024 with Junxin Huanbao Key Zhi Invest LLC. The total investment in the project stands at $95 million. In its initial phase, the facility will handle around 1,000 tonnes of waste per day, with processing capacity set to increase gradually as operations are scaled up.

Zhaparov said this Kyrgyzstan waste-to-energy plant would significantly improve the environmental situation by curbing the accumulation of solid waste and lowering the pressure on existing landfill sites of Bishkek. At the same time, the electricity generated will help diversify energy sources and strengthen supply reliability.

Encouraged by the project’s potential, the Kyrgyz government is considering replicating the model in other cities. Similar waste-to-energy plants are being planned for Osh, Balykchy and Karakol, subject to the successful operation of the Bishkek facility.