Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan held a third round of trilateral negotiations on a draft intergovernmental agreement for the joint implementation of the Kambarata HPP-1 project in Almaty on 21–23 September, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy said.
The talks brought together representatives of government bodies responsible for energy, water resources and foreign policy in the three countries, as well as other relevant agencies and organizations. Representatives of the World Bank, which is providing technical support in preparing the draft agreement, attended as observers.
The participants reviewed key provisions of the future intergovernmental document. In particular, they discussed the model for jointly implementing and managing the project, financing issues, the distribution of obligations among the states and further coordination of cooperation.
Joint work on Kambarata HPP-1 is viewed as one area for strengthening regional cooperation in Central Asia in energy and water resources. The project is also aimed at improving the resilience of energy systems and developing mechanisms for mutually beneficial use of water resources.
Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy recalled that during talks between Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on 30 July, energy cooperation was identified as one of the strategic areas of bilateral interaction. The sides then stressed the need to conclude the Kambarata HPP-1 agreement as soon as possible and move to practical implementation of the project.
Negotiations on preparing the document are being conducted with the participation of all three countries. The first round was held in Bishkek from 31 March to 2 April, while the second took place in Tashkent from 28–30 April. The meeting in Almaty marked the third stage of coordinating the terms for the joint implementation of Kambarata HPP-1.
