Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan Advance Mega Kambar-Ata Hydropower Plan at Brussels Summit

The Energy Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan met in Brussels on September 25-26 for the third ministerial roundtable focused on the Kambar-Ata Hydropower Plant 1 project, a major regional initiative with a planned capacity of 1,860 MW.

Recognized as a cornerstone for improving energy security and promoting sustainable water resource management in Central Asia, the project continues to make steady progress, The Caspian Post reports via Kyrgyz media.

The ministers - Yerlan Akkenzhenov of Kazakhstan, Taalaibek Ibraev of Kyrgyzstan, and Jurabek Mirzamahmudov of Uzbekistan - reviewed recent developments and mapped out the next phases of collaboration.

Key discussion points included the completion and evaluation of the project’s feasibility study, preliminary environmental and social impact assessments, and frameworks for joint implementation by the three nations. Updated financial projections and approaches to securing international funding were also examined. The ministers set a timeline for stakeholder consultations at local, national, and transboundary levels, scheduled for October to November 2025.

The roundtable was organized with the support of the World Bank, which is providing technical assistance in updating the feasibility study and crafting a sustainable financial model for the project.

In parallel, the Kyrgyz delegation engaged in bilateral meetings with leading international financial institutions and organizations - including the European Union, European Investment Bank (EIB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), OPEC Fund, and Rothschild Bank - to discuss potential cooperation in project financing and implementation.

The energy ministers reaffirmed their governments’ strong political commitment to advancing the Kambar-Ata 1 Hydropower Plant project efficiently, highlighting its strategic importance for regional energy integration and sustainable development.