Energy officials from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan concluded the first round of negotiations in Bishkek on the development of the Kambarata-1 hydropower plant. The talks, held between March 31 and April 2, focused on an intergovernmental agreement regarding the financing, construction, and operation of the facility on the Naryn River. The World Bank attended the sessions as an observer and potential lead creditor for the regional infrastructure project.
The proposed project involves a 261-meter concrete dam and a reservoir with a capacity of 5.2 billion cubic meters. The plant is designed to have a generation capacity of 1,880 megawatts. The three nations plan to establish a joint venture based in Kyrgyzstan to manage the asset. Kyrgyzstan will hold a 34 percent stake in the venture, while Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will each hold 33 percent to ensure balanced decision-making regarding the water and energy resource.
This legal framework follows several years of preliminary coordination among the neighboring states. The respective energy ministers signed a development road map in January 2023 and a cooperation agreement in the summer of 2024. Technical proposals and environmental assessments were completed by the autumn of 2025 following a series of public hearings. In late 2025, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced that joint financing for the primary construction works would commence in 2026.
The World Bank has already provided 18.6 million dollars for technical and environmental expertise (including 5 million dollars in 2023 and 13.6 million dollars in 2024). The financial institution is currently reviewing a request for a 1.5 billion dollar preferential loan while coordinating with other international donors. The project is expected to create 7,000 jobs during the construction and operation phases. Officials expect the final intergovernmental agreement to be signed and ratified by the end of 2026.
