TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, October 6. The preliminary cost of the Kambarata Hydropower Plant (HPP-1) project is estimated at $4.2 billion, while the total financial portfolio has reached $5.6 billion, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Energy Zhurabek Mirzakhmudov told local media, Trend reports.
The Minister made this statement following a meeting held in Brussels between the energy ministers of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, dedicated to advancing the Kambarata HPP-1 project.
According to Mirzakhmudov, the event, organized under the auspices of the World Bank, brought together about ten major international financial institutions, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the OPEC Fund, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Italian financial institutions, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
He noted that all these institutions expressed readiness to finance the project even before the full technical documentation is finalized—an indication of the high level of trust and growing international interest in the initiative.
Participants emphasized the regional importance of the project and its uniqueness as the first large-scale hydropower initiative in Central Asia to attract such broad international engagement. The Minister also highlighted the pivotal role of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in advancing the project, underscoring his personal commitment and leadership in promoting regional energy cooperation.
The Kambarata HPP-1 project will be implemented in full compliance with international environmental, technical, and economic standards. Project documentation has been prepared by international consultants in line with the interests of all participating countries. From an environmental standpoint, the project offers key advantages: unlike many other hydrotechnical facilities, the Kambarata HPP will not cause significant disruption to local ecosystems. All environmental risks have been carefully analyzed and addressed, while efficient management of water resources during the vegetation season will ensure their rational use.
Under the project’s ownership structure, the Kyrgyz Republic will hold a 34-percent stake, while Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan will each hold 33 percent. Each country will be entitled to purchase electricity in proportion to its share, with the option to increase volumes depending on market demand and national needs.
The facility will be managed by a joint venture operating on
market principles, ensuring flexibility in responding to
consumption fluctuations and guaranteeing the stable operation of
the Kambarata Hydropower Plant.
The third ministerial roundtable on the Kambarata HPP-1 project was
held in Brussels, Belgium, on September 25–26, 2025. The project is
a key regional initiative aimed at enhancing energy security and
promoting sustainable water resource management in Central Asia. It
involves the construction of a 1,860 MW hydropower plant on the
Naryn River in Kyrgyzstan and is jointly led by the governments of
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.
