Kyrgyzstan

SPARE project activities appreciated by the National Academy of Sciences. National Project Coordinator of EM "BIOM" was awarded the Diploma for the contribution to the development of innovation in energy efficiency. Awarding ceremony was held in the framework of the republican exhibition "Innovation-2011".

Energy efficient solutions were presented in the "Best practices of energy saving" exhibition. It took place in Novopokrovka village in Issyk-Ata district of Chui oblast with the support of the Norwegian Society for Nature Conservation. The exhibition was organized by the Environmental Movement "BIOM", SPARE Coordinator in Kyrgyzstan.

International seminar and annual coordination meeting, devoted to the SPARE development in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia took place 27-29 of May in Ukraine. Participants discussed development of educational materials for schoolchildren, domestic practical project on renewable energy and energy efficiency, NGO capacity building and involvement to national energy policy.

On May 28th to 31st an international semonar on the development of the SPARE project took place in Minsk. An important theme of the workshop was the integration of SPARE project into the state education systems in the participants’ countries, as well as practical solutions for energy saving. Participants visited a straw house and a multistory house that was built with energy-saving technologies and was recommended as a model for construction in Belarus.

On March 19th and 20th 2010 “solar barrels” assembling workshop took place in environment and economics lyceum №65 in Bishkek. It was organized by BIOM environmental movement in cooperation with Norwegian Society for Nature Conservation and with the help from the Norwegian Foreign Ministry as part of SPARE project.

Norges Naturvernforbund/Friends of the Earth Norway has for several years cooperated with NGO partners in EECCA region on education, practical projects and policy development around energy and climate issues. We have now got the possibility to invite most of our NGO cooperation partners to Oslo, and on the 3rd of June we use the opportunity to arrange a conference on energy and climate in the Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA-region).

Last winter countries in Central Asia experienced severe energy shortages, the situation being most severe for Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. In temperatures down to 30 degrees below zero electricity disappeared for days and weeks, with grave consequences for households, hospitals and schools. Kyrgyzstan is now preparing for a new winter with energy shortage. Daily power cuts are now reality in the capital Bishkek, and “winter holiday” from 20th of December till February is already announced for all schools.

SPARE in Kyrgyzstan has implemented a bigger project on solar water heating in rural regions of the country. In 20 villages a number of families have got the possibility to be trained on how to build low cost solar water heaters. The project has met great interest all over Kyrgyzstan, and in total more than 300 persons has been trained on solar water heaters.

SPARE coordinators from 11 countries have in the end of April been gathered for international SPARE meeting in Karaganda, Kazakhstan. The coordinators have been discussing results and development of educational and practical energy activities. The activity of SPARE is higher than ever, with 3 000 schools and 150 000 pupils participating in the project during the educational year 2007-2008.

SPARE made contacts at the VI Environmental Ministerial Conference of Easter Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA).
The Sixth Ministerial Conference "Environment for Europe" (EfE) was held in Belgrade (Serbia) from 10 to 12 October 2007. SPARE participated with exhibition stand, presented by SPARE team, including Norwegian Society for Conservation of Nature, BIOM (Kyrgyzstan), For the Earth (Tajikistan), Friends of the Baltic (Russia), Eco-vision (Georgia).