Kyrgyzstan nearly halves economy’s energy intensity over five years

Kyrgyzstan has significantly reduced the amount of energy required to produce goods and services, according to data released by the National Statistical Committee. Over the past five years, the country’s economic energy intensity declined almost twofold, falling from 20.5 to 10.1 tonnes of standard fuel per approximately US$11,400 of gross domestic product (GDP), as reported by Akchabar, a partner of TV BRICS.

Energy intensity is regarded as one of the key indicators of economic efficiency. Lower energy consumption per unit of GDP reflects more effective use of resources and contributes to reduced operational costs for both businesses and the state. The latest figures indicate continued progress in improving productivity and optimising energy consumption across major sectors of the economy.

The most substantial changes were recorded in the mining industry. In 2019, the sector required 23.6 tonnes of standard fuel to produce goods worth around US$11,400. By 2024, this figure had decreased to 9.2 tonnes, marking a reduction of more than 2.5 times and highlighting the sector’s transition towards more efficient production practices.

Positive trends were also observed in agriculture. Over the five-year period, energy intensity in the sector dropped from 1 tonne to 0.6 tonnes of standard fuel per approximately US$11,400 of output. The improvement has been linked to the introduction of more energy-efficient machinery and the optimisation of production processes.

Notable progress was achieved in the energy sector as well. Although electricity, gas, and heat production and distribution remain the most energy-intensive segments of the economy, the indicator declined from 149.5 to 96.3 tonnes of standard fuel per approximately US$11,400 of production between 2019 and 2024. Overall, Kyrgyzstan now uses almost half the amount of energy to generate the equivalent of US$11,400 in GDP compared with five years ago.