Kyrgyzstan To Sell Energy Infrastructure

16 August 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Kyrgyzstan's President Kurmanbek Bakiev said today he will push forward the sale of the country's major hydroelectricity infrastructure, probably to Russian firms.
Speaking on national television, Bakiev said Kyrgyzstan should put the energy sector to tender.

He also noted that some very influential, strong Russian companies have promised "to put things in order" in the current year.

Kairat Zhumaliev, who heads the government's energy-sector department, told journalists that an international tender will be conducted after deputies support the president's proposal.

He stressed that it will be possible for investors from any country to win.

The Kyrgyz government has long been in talks on updating the infrastructure with Russian energy giant EES.

(AFP)