Kambarata HPP-1: A Strategic Central Asian Project Receives Funding from the EU and EIB

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The European Union and international partners have announced new investments in the hydropower infrastructure of Central Asia.

At the Global Gateway Forum, held on 9–10 October in Brussels, memorandums of understanding were signed between Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, the EU, and the European Investment Bank (EIB) for a total of €900 million for the Kambarata Hydropower Plant-1 (HPP-1) project.

In addition, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is considering project financing worth €1.3 billion. The project’s feasibility study and implementation plans, prepared with the support of the EU and the World Bank, were also presented.

Kambarata HPP-1 is being constructed on the Naryn River in Kyrgyzstan’s Jalal-Abad region. The plant will have a capacity of 1,860 MW, a reservoir volume of 5.4 billion cubic meters, and a dam height of 256 meters. Once operational, the power plant will generate approximately 5.6 billion kWh of electricity annually.

The construction period is expected to last ten years, with the first turbine scheduled to come online four years after the start of the main construction phase.

The project is being implemented as a regional initiative, with equity stakes in the joint venture distributed as follows: Kyrgyzstan – 34%, Kazakhstan – 33%, Uzbekistan – 33%. Upon completion, all assets will be transferred to Kyrgyz ownership, and the partners’ shares will not be transferable or subject to sale.

EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Josef Sikela emphasized that investment in hydropower will ensure reliable access to electricity, generate income for local communities, and support sustainable agriculture.

EIB Vice President Kyriakos Kakouris highlighted the project’s potential to expand renewable electricity trade and strengthen the region’s energy security. EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso underscored the importance of the hydropower plant for the water and energy security of Central Asia.

The Global Gateway Initiative, under which the project is being implemented, aims to close the global investment gap and promote the development of infrastructure, digital, energy, and transport systems, as well as strengthen healthcare, education, and scientific capacity.

The total planned investment under the initiative amounts to up to €300 billion for the period 2021–2027.