Altynay Abdykerimova (Kyrgyzstan)

Meet Altynay Abdykerimova, founder and President of the Association of Women in Energy in Kyrgyzstan. Favorite quote:” Everything is in our hands, so you can't put them down.” Coco Chanel.

In the power sector of the Kyrgyz Republic, Altynay has implemented several major projects on reconstruction and modernization of large power facilities, including Toktogul HPP Project Reconstruction Phase 1, Lot 4 “Reconstruction of 500 kV Open Switchyard and 500 kV Transfer Point”, CASA-1000 Project, Replacement of No. 4 of 300 MW hydroelectric unit at Toktogul HPP (Phase 2) and many other projects.

Professional background

My practical experience and appropriate theoretical knowledge, as well as my personal qualities of responsibility, goal commitment, hard-working nature, leadership and efficient response, contribute to successful implementation of tasks set by me. In my work, I always focus on the qualitative achievement of goals and meeting deadlines. Even in stressful situations, you can always rely on me as I keep a positive attitude and generate new ideas and solutions. The idea for this Association was born exactly when I worked as a Project Manager. During the staff selection process, I faced the problem of lack of women specialists. It was the first shot. Since then, I have often faced same situation. I discussed with my colleagues and decided to create a platform for women in the energy sector. I can't call my story a success or anything like that because I haven't even done 5% of what I want to do for all women working in the energy sector in Kyrgyzstan

I have three professions. I am Economist, Lawyer and Energy Engineer. For a long time, I have been looking for my place in the world and I was surprised when an international company offered me a job in the energy sector, but after I accepted the offer, I fell in love with the energy sector profession.

Challenges

The problems were that there was a stereotype that women cannot take on leadership roles, much less a power facility. Initially, this blinkered vision and thinking was a kind of barrier for me. However, through my work I was able to prove the opposite and gained the respect of many male colleagues.

Moment of inspiration

The biggest success factor for me was establishing the Association of Women in Energy in Kyrgyzstan and implementing major projects on reconstruction and modernization of large power facilities, including Toktogul HPP Project Reconstruction Phase 1, Lot 4 “Reconstruction of 500 kV Open Switchyard and 500 kV Transfer Point”, CASA-1000 Project, Replacement of No. 4 of 300 MW hydroelectric unit at Toktogul HPP (Phase 2) and many other projects.

Acknowledged success

I do not consider myself a successful person, as I wrote earlier, the projects planned in the Association of Women in Energy of Kyrgyzstan, have not yet been implemented and still a work in progress. It can be considered as a success the establishment of such an Association, because there are no women’s association in the energy sector in Central Asia. To discuss in detail and thoroughly on the gender perspective in energy transition and climate change management, and not only in the context of Central Asia, we are preparing the Central Asian Women in Energy Summit to be held in Kyrgyzstan in August 2022. This even will take place under leadership of our Association.

Center for Natural Resources and Sustainability

Kazakh-German University

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