About the Kambar-Ata HPP-1 Project: History, Objectives and Significance of the Project

Energy Security and Economic Growth

The project will enhance energy security and reliability, thereby contributing to economic growth and improving the welfare of the citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Regional Cooperation

This is a groundbreaking joint cooperation aimed at tackling the energy issues in the region.
By strengthening electricity trade in Central Asia, the project will further advance regional cooperation and help countries achieve their decarbonization goals.
Clean Energy

The project will generate clean energy and provide flexible balancing services for large-scale expansion of solar and wind in Central Asia, reducing the carbon footprint and contributing to ecological sustainability.

Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant (HPP) is a major energy project currently under development in the Kyrgyz Republic. The project is located in the Tien-Shan Mountain range, in the upstream reach of the Naryn River. This strategic position will allow for the harnessing of the river’s flow and the country's mountainous terrain to unlock significant hydropower potential and generate sustainable energy.

The first attempt to build a dam at the Kambarata-1 site was in 1986. However, construction stopped due to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Subsequent efforts did not come to fruition until 2022, when President Sadyr Japarov announced a fresh start for the project. The project was granted National priority status. Site preparation works commenced.

In response to the request of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, the World Bank is providing comprehensive support for the development of the Kambarata-1 HPP. This support is delivered through the Technical Assistance for Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant Project, which includes updating the 2014 feasibility study, preparation of environmental and social documentation, and development of a sustainable financing plan and commercial framework.

For the latest updates on the Kambarata-1 project, please refer to the Events section.

Participating countries

The Kambarata-1 Hydropower Project is a transformational clean energy initiative aimed at enhancing energy security, maximizing water-energy potential, strengthening regional cooperation, and accelerating the transition to clean energy in the Kyrgyz Republic and Central Asia. In June 2024, an agreement for the joint development of the Kambarata-1 HPP was signed by the Ministers of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan. The parties reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate and discussed project implementation mechanisms during a series of subsequent trilateral meetings and consultations with international development partners.