Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan Advance Kambarata-1 Hydropower Talks

Delegations from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan concluded a round of negotiations in Tashkent concerning the draft intergovernmental agreement for the construction of the Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant. The meetings, held April 28–30, 2026, mark a step toward the operational launch of one of Central Asia’s largest infrastructure projects. The presence of World Bank delegates as observers during the consultations indicates the readiness of international financial institutions to participate in syndicating a loan for the facility’s construction.

The hydroelectric plant, with a projected capacity of 1,880 megawatts, will be located on the Naryn River in Kyrgyzstan. This project directly impacts the water and energy balance of the entire macro-region. Joint management of these resources provides Bishkek with an independent power generation source and a foundation for energy development, and Tashkent – with guarantees of predictable water discharge for agricultural irrigation during the summer period.

Over the course of the three-day consultations, officials thoroughly analyzed the architecture of the future treaty. Negotiators focused on aligning positions on previously unresolved articles related to share distribution, operational control, and dispatch mechanisms. The parties developed compromise formulations for several disputed points, transitioning the dialogue entirely into the technical and financial domains.

Following the meetings in the Uzbek capital, the working groups agreed to continue coordinating their positions. The exact timeline for the signing of the final intergovernmental agreement remains the subject of ongoing diplomatic engagements.