OSCE-supported course on protecting hydropower stations to be held in Kyrgyzstan

CHOLPON-ATA, Kyrgyzstan, 30 July 2010 - An OSCE-supported training course for Interior Ministry officials on watercraft patrolling and use of emergency equipment to protect hydropower stations starts Sunday in Cholpon-Ata.

High-level staff of the Interior Ministry dealing with the protection of critical infrastructure will take part in the course.

"Protecting energy infrastructure is a high priority, and this course aims to help Kyrgyzstan build the competence it needs to better protect important hydropower stations," said Lilian Darii, the Deputy Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.

The ten-day course covers topics such as effective patrolling with motorboats, use of emergency equipment and related matters.

"The training course and the watercraft equipment provided with OSCE assistance will improve the protection of strategically important energy infrastructure units of Kyrgyzstan, in particular the Toktogul water reservoir storage," said Colonel Sovet Arbaev, the Commander of the Internal Troops of Kyrgyzstan.

A similar training course was held at the Toktogul hydropower plant in Kyrgyzstan's Jalal-Abad province in early July. The OSCE Centre's support follows an OSCE Ministerial Council decision on assisting the protection of critical energy infrastructure in OSCE participating States.