The Eurasian Development Bank emphasizes that the implementation of the Kambar-Ata Hydroelectric Power Plant-1 project can play a central role in strengthening cooperation in the field of water resources and energy in Central Asia. The uniqueness of this project lies in the creation of a trilateral consortium that for the first time unites the interests of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan for the construction of a significant hydraulic engineering facility.
The HPP-1 project, with a capacity of 1.88 GW and a cost of $3.6 billion, represents one of the largest investment projects in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia. Taking into account the interests of all participating parties, it demonstrates the potential for effective cooperation.
The significance of the project goes beyond energy: it is also capable of supporting the energy systems of the countries in the region amid growing electricity demand and water resource management. The construction of an additional dam on the Naryn River will allow the Toktogul HPP to perform the functions of a counter-regulator, ensuring more effective management of seasonal water flows and helping to balance the needs between the energy sector and agriculture.
In the long term, the Kambar-Ata HPP-1 can help reduce risks associated with droughts and adapt to climate change. The large reservoirs created as part of the project will serve as water reservoirs during periods of insufficient precipitation and promote the development of renewable energy in the region.
The project is strategically important not only for Kyrgyzstan but for all of Central Asia. It represents a practical application of the international consortium model that takes into account the interests of all three countries. According to experts from the EDB, such a form of cooperation could become the basis for further development of interaction in the field of water and energy resources in the region.
