Bishkek, Dec.18, 2025./kabar/. In exclusive comments to the Kabar News Agency, Alexei Kuznetsov, head of Eurasian Development Bank's analytical department, discussed the impact of the Kambar-Ata-1 project on regional development. The expert assessed the project's prospects and noted the importance of its implementation.
"Kambarata HPP-1 project (KHPP-1) is one of the largest investment projects for hydropower plant construction in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia, with a capacity of 1.88 GW and cost of $3.6 billion. KHPP-1 is of strategic importance not only for Kyrgyzstan but for the entire region.
The project's regional significance stems from its potential to support the power systems of neighboring countries amid steadily increasing electricity demand and to manage the region's water and energy balance. The additional dam with a counter-regulator function will effectively regulate seasonal water flows and, consequently, balance water needs between the energy sector and irrigated agriculture.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov emphasized that the launch of KHPP-1 "will allow the Toktogul HPP to operate optimally and ensure water supplies to neighboring countries during the spring and summer, as well as fully meet Kyrgyzstan's electricity needs during the autumn and winter." In the long term, KHPP-1 could contribute to drought risk reduction and climate change adaptation, as large reservoirs provide water reserves during dry years and support the development of clean energy in the region.
Furthermore, the project is of fundamental importance for the region. It is testing the practical application of international consortium project, which allows for the interests of three parties, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, to be taken into account. “In the future, this format could become key to the development of regional cooperation in the water and energy sector of Central Asia,” concluded Alexei Kuznetsov.