OREANDA-NEWS  On 11 November was announced, that November 3, 2008 witnessed opening of minor Issykskaya Hydroelectric Plant-2 (IHP-2) of 5.1 MW located in the Ille-Alatauskiy national park on the Issyk river in Yenbekshi-Kazakh district of Almaty region constructed by "EnergoAllem" in cooperation with BTA Bank.

The Project value is USD 4, 3 mln. where developer’s funds amounted to USD 2,2 mln. (53%) and borrowed funds from BTA – USD 2,1 mln. (47%).

The Project was developed within the construction program of minor hydroelectric power plants of 2 to 20 MW in Almaty region in compliance with Regulation # 161"On additional activities in the development of hydropower engineering of the Republic of Kazakhstan" adopted by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated February 22, 2005.

At present Almaty power system is running deficit and annually imports about 25% (1 300 mln. KW per hour) of the general power requirement.

Moreover, due to the signing of Kyoto Protocol by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and its further ratification there is a general concern of reducing greenhouse emissions especially in Almaty and the national park. It is expected that power generation in the Issykskaya Hydroelectric Plant-2 will reduce greenhouse emissions to 29 thousand tons per year.

Issykskaya Hydroelectric Plant is located in the territory of Ille-Alatauskiy national park as well as sports facilities being constructed for Winter Asiad to be held in Almaty and which all need power especially if supplied by environmentally friendly independent sources.