Kyrgyzstan Advances Kambar-Ata-1 Hydropower Project with World Bank
The government of Kyrgyzstan is finalizing preparations for the construction of the Kambar-Ata-1 Hydropower Plant on the Naryn River – the largest hydropower facility in the country with a design capacity of 1,860 megawatts. The transition from preliminary earthworks to the investment phase and direct dam construction was discussed during spring meetings with World Bank leadership in Washington. International creditors evaluate the plant as a commercially viable asset capable of accelerating the regional transition to green energy generation.
A Kyrgyz delegation conducted a series of negotiations with Charles Cormier, the World Bank Regional Director for Infrastructure in Europe and Central Asia. The parties agreed on financial aspects and the future project schedule. Video materials from the construction site demonstrate a high level of logistical readiness. Over recent years, the government in Bishkek has utilized its own budget to build necessary access roads, transport tunnels, a bridge, and power transmission lines.
The approved plan indicates that the excavation of two 800-meter diversion tunnels will be completed by April 2026. Following this milestone, contractors will begin pouring the dam and installing the primary hydraulic structures. To reduce project timelines, the implementation of the feasibility study has been shifted to a parallel construction mode, allowing work on adjacent facilities to proceed simultaneously.
The scope of the Kambar-Ata-1 facility extends beyond the domestic interests of Kyrgyzstan, directly impacting the ecology and water balance of neighboring nations. The new hydropower plant is designed to address river runoff management challenges exacerbated by global climate change – while also ensuring a stable energy supply. Bishkek, Astana, and Tashkent are currently finalizing the text of an intergovernmental agreement regarding the joint operation of the facility. A full launch of the active construction phase is expected once the trilateral treaty is signed and international credit lines are opened.
