The World Bank has highlighted the strategic importance of the Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant in strengthening energy security across Central Asia.

Hugh Riddell, World Bank Country Manager for Kyrgyzstan, said the project will bolster confidence in Kyrgyzstan’s energy future while also supporting regional food security, The Caspian Post reports via Kyrgyz media.

During a meeting with Taalaibek Ibraev, Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Energy, Riddell praised the ministry’s work as “excellent” and confirmed that negotiations on the intergovernmental agreement for Kambarata-1 are actively underway.

Ibraev noted that ongoing modernization efforts helped Kyrgyzstan navigate the past winter safely and highlighted upgrades to equipment and tariff policies, while emphasizing the growing need for skilled professionals in the energy sector.

Discussions on the technical, economic, and environmental aspects of Kambarata-1 will continue at the World Bank’s spring meeting in Washington to ensure smooth implementation. The project, which is already nearly 50% complete, is a key pillar of Kyrgyzstan’s energy strategy and its push for “green” energy initiatives in the region.