Central Asian Nations Advance Kambarata-1 Hydropower Agreement
The first round of negotiations on an intergovernmental agreement for the construction of the Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant has concluded in Bishkek. Delegations from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan met from March 31 to April 2, 2026, to negotiate the conditions for the joint financing, ownership, and operation of the future facility on the Naryn River. The project involves the creation of a 1,880-megawatt plant designed to alter the energy and water balance of Central Asia.
The meeting took place at the level of deputy heads of the relevant ministries of the three countries – Altynbek Rysbekov representing Kyrgyzstan, Sungat Yesimkhanov for Kazakhstan, and Umid Mamadaminov for Uzbekistan. Representatives of the World Bank attended the discussions in an observer capacity. Following the finalization and ratification of the documents, the parties are expected to establish a joint venture headquartered in Kyrgyzstan. The host country will hold a 34 percent share, while Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will each receive a 33 percent stake.
The Kambarata-1 project is designed as a 261-meter dam with a reservoir capacity of 5.2 billion cubic meters. The station will be located upstream on the Naryn River from the existing cascade, which includes the Toktogul reservoir and the Kambarata-2 Hydropower Plant. Engineers project the new facility will generate approximately 6,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually. This output is intended to reduce the reliance of the region on polluting hydrocarbon imports during the winter months and to ensure the more rational management of water resources for agricultural needs.
Preparation for the project has been underway for several years. Energy ministers signed a project roadmap in early 2023, followed by a formal cooperation agreement in the summer of 2024. The World Bank has already allocated 18.6 million dollars for the preparatory phase, which includes environmental and social impact assessments. The financial institution is currently considering the provision of concessional loans of up to 1.5 billion dollars as part of a multiphase program. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev previously announced that joint financing for the project would commence in 2026.
