| Location: | Datka and Kemin provincial towns |
| Sector: | Energy |
| Total cost: | $ 208 mln |
| Chinese partner: |
Exim Bank of China TBEA |
| Kyrgyzstani partner: |
JSC National Electric Grids of Kyrgyzstan |
| Construction start: | 2011 |
| Putting into commission: | 2013 |
The Export-Import Bank of China is a state-owned policy bank with the status of an independent legal entity. The Bank plays a crucial role in promoting steady economic growth and structural adjustment, supporting foreign trade, and implementing the “going global” strategy. The Bank has been active in various projects in Kyrgyzstan, often linked to BRI. In May 2018, the Kyrgyzstani debt to this bank amounted to $1.5 bln, which should be paid back in a period of 5 years. [1]
TBEA, previously known as Tebian Electric Apparatus, is a Chinese manufacturer of power transformers and other electrical equipment, and a developer of transmission projects. The company actively practices the BRI strategy and is devoted to sharing the advanced electricity construction experience of China with the world. The company has provided green technology and smart environment-friendly, stable and efficient energy equipment to more than 60 countries, including the United States, Russia, Brazil, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan.[2]
In 2011, an agreement with Chinese TBEA was signed to construct the Datka - South power transmission lines. The initial project cost was $229 mln. After the cost optimization it was reduced to $208 mln. [3]
The substation 500 kV Datka was built and existing substations 220 kV Kristall, Oktyabrskaya, Uzlovaya and Alay were reconstructed by TBEA. Since reconstruction, the Datka substation receives all electricity from the lower cascade of hydropower stations, which includes the Kurpsai, Tashkumyr, Shamaldysai and Uch-Kurgan hydropower stations. This substation eliminates the dependence of southern Kyrgyzstan on the high-voltage networks of Uzbekistan.
Exim Bank of China allocated a loan of $ 208 mln to the project for a period of 20 years at 2% per annum with a grace period of 7 years. [4]