Kyrgyzstan Seeks Integration Into EEU Energy Market - Deputy Prime Minister

Kyrgyzstan is interested in integration into the Eurasian Economic Union's (EEU) common energy market, Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Pankratov said on Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Kyrgyzstan acceded to the EEU in August 2015, less than a year after the union was established. The country's customs control with Kazakhstan was lifted, while a common EEU customs tariff was implemented on its external borders.

"The Eurasian Economic Union opens new opportunities for us. Taking part in the forming common EEU energy market represents a promising direction of cooperation for our country," Pankratov said during a meeting of EEU's governing body, the Eurasian Economic Commission.

The Central Asian country has a significant electricity generation potential, Pankratov said, adding that its integration into the EEU market will provide for export opportunities and investments in the country's energy sector.

In 2015, Kyrgyzstan generated 12.9 billion kWh, over two thirds of which were used for household consumption, according to National Energy Holding Company head Aibek Kaliev. Most of the mountainous country's generation capacity comes from hydroelectric dams, with a significant untapped potential of its mountain rivers.

The EEC replaced the looser integrated Eurasian Economic Community in January 2015. The union comprises Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia. The EU-style bloc aims at greater economic integration between its member states, including a streamlined flow of goods, services, capital and labor.