Energy Infrastructure - The Times Of Central Asia

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Kambarata

Central Asian Countries and World Bank Discuss Progress on Kambarata-1 Hydropower Project

On January 27, Tashkent hosted a roundtable discussion on advancing the construction of the Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant (HPP), an ambitious regional initiative being jointly undertaken by Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. The project aims to enhance regional cooperation in Central Asia regarding water and energy resource management. The meeting was attended by Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Energy Taalaibek Ibrayev, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Energy Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Energy Sungat Yesimkhanov, and the World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia Tatiana Proskuryakova. The Kambarata-1 HPP, with a projected capacity of 1,860 megawatts and an average annual electricity generation of 5.6 billion kilowatt-hours, will be constructed at an estimated cost exceeding $4 billion. It is planned to be located in the upper reaches of the Naryn River in Kyrgyzstan. Upon completion, it will become the largest hydropower plant in Kyrgyzstan and is expected to address the country's chronic electricity shortages. At the meeting, ministers from the three participating countries requested the World Bank’s assistance in preparing and financing the Kambarata-1 HPP construction. Kyrgyzstan's Ibrayev described the project as "the project of the century" for Kyrgyzstan, emphasizing its potential to strengthen regional cooperation and foster long-term development across Central Asia. “Today's roundtable in Tashkent continues a series of meetings that took place in Vienna, Brussels, and Washington in 2024. These events help coordinate and accelerate the project’s implementation, as well as attract the necessary international support,” Ibrayev stated. From Kazakhstan’s side, Yesimkhanov highlighted the meeting as another step forward in strengthening regional cooperation in the water and energy sectors. He expressed confidence that the project would bolster good relations among Central Asian nations. Uzbek representative Mirzamakhmudov reiterated his country’s commitment to the project, underscoring its strategic importance for the region. "The project will bring significant benefits to all Central Asian countries by strengthening regional energy security, accelerating the transition to a green economy, and improving the use of water resources," he said. Currently, Kyrgyzstan, with the World Bank’s technical support, is revising the project’s feasibility study. This includes assessing the technical, economic, financial, environmental, and social dimensions of the Kambarata-1 HPP. World Bank Regional Director Proskuryakova reaffirmed the institution’s readiness to support the three governments in their efforts to ensure a stable energy future for the region. “We will continue to provide technical assistance in the implementation of the Kambarata-1 HPP construction project. Together with other international development partners, we are working to attract the financing necessary to implement the project,” she said. Ibrayev has previously stated that all preparatory stages of the project are scheduled for completion by May 2025. In September 2024, Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers and the World Bank organized a roundtable to discuss dam selection for the Kambarata-1 HPP. The Swiss engineering firm AFRY proposed several options, and Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Energy has confirmed that the feasibility study will be finalized based on the chosen dam design by May 2025.

Rogun HPP

AIIB Commits $500 Million to Tajikistan’s Rogun Hydropower Project

The Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved a multiphase program totaling $500 million, including an initial Phase 1 loan of $270 million, to support Tajikistan’s flagship Rogun Hydropower Plant (HPP) project. The announcement was made on January 6, following the financing approval on December 19, 2024. The Rogun HPP, located on the Vakhsh River — a tributary of the Amu Darya River — lies 110 kilometers from Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital. With a designed generation capacity of 3,780 MW, a 335-meter-high dam, and a reservoir spanning 170 square kilometers, the Rogun HPP is expected to deliver improved electricity access to around 10 million people. It aims to address Tajikistan’s chronic winter power shortages and position the country as a key regional energy supplier. The project is co-financed with the World Bank, with potential contributions from a global consortium of donors. It seeks to enhance the supply of clean, affordable, and climate-resilient hydropower, with the potential to export electricity to neighboring Central Asian countries. As Central Asia’s energy demand is projected to grow by 40% by 2030 and triple by 2050, the Rogun HPP will play a pivotal role in increasing reliability and reducing the cost of electricity supply across the region. Konstantin Limitovskiy, AIIB Chief Investment Officer, commented on the significance of the project, stating: "This project will significantly contribute to the green energy transition and energy security of Central Asia. Investing in sustainable energy infrastructure is not merely about meeting today’s demands, but about empowering future generations with clean, reliable power that drives transformative growth, strengthens resilience, and unlocks the full potential of the region." Tajikistan ranks eighth globally in hydropower potential, yet only about 4% of this capacity is currently utilized. The Rogun HPP is set to play a critical role in decarbonizing electricity grids across Central Asia, supporting the region’s ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

NPP

Kazakhstan to Train Workforce for Future Nuclear Power Plants

Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant (NPP) is expected to create permanent employment for approximately 2,000 people, with an additional 10,000 workers involved during its construction. This announcement was made by Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev during a recent government meeting. The country plans to commission its first NPP by 2035. A shortlist of potential builders includes four international companies: China’s CNNC, Russia’s Rosatom, South Korea’s KHNP, and France’s EDF. Authorities have also suggested the possibility of forming a consortium involving multiple countries to leverage diverse technological solutions. Alongside these efforts, Kazakhstan intends to independently train the specialists required for NPP operations. Minister Satkaliyev highlighted plans to establish specialized training programs in domestic colleges to develop skills for roles such as dosimetrists, steam turbine equipment mechanics, nuclear power plant maintenance and repair specialists, and IT specialists for nuclear facilities. Practical training will be conducted at the National Nuclear Center and the Institute of Nuclear Physics. “By 2030, the NPP construction project will create around 5,000 jobs, peaking at approximately 10,000 jobs in 2032. Once operational, the first plant will provide at least 2,000 permanent positions,” Satkaliyev stated. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan is accelerating the construction timeline for the NPP, located in the Almaty region, and plans to select a contractor in the first half of this year. During the government meeting, which coincided with the “Year of Working Professions” initiative, Satkaliyev also addressed the broader labor demand in Kazakhstan’s energy sector. The industry is expected to require over 16,000 additional workers, including power engineers, welders, fitters, gas cutters, and electricians, by 2030. The country’s energy sector currently employs 303,000 people across 1,600 enterprises, with 99 new projects planned over the next five years. To attract and retain talent, the Ministry of Energy aims to achieve an annual 15% wage increase for production personnel in energy-producing companies. Meanwhile, Talgat Yergaliyev, Chairman of the Union of Builders of Kazakhstan (UBC), has called for simplifying the hiring process for foreign labor to address workforce shortages in Kazakhstan’s construction sector.

Energy

Kazakhstan Could Save America’s Energy Future

The energy crisis gripping Europe has made clear for all to see the limits of solar and wind power. Years of investment and unbridled ambition have not created renewable sources that can deliver the consistent, large-scale energy that modern economies need. Nuclear power has emerged as the only viable solution for achieving zero-emissions energy while maintaining reliability. Europe’s urgent need to reduce its dependency on Russian gas has made all that even clearer. Meanwhile, the United States faces its own energy challenges. Its nuclear industry urgently requires a secure and stable uranium supply; yet U.S. foreign policy has largely overlooked Kazakhstan, the world’s largest uranium producer. It gets worse. No sitting U.S. president has ever visited Kazakhstan, which produces over 40% of the world’s natural uranium. Russia and China have filled this diplomatic vacuum, embedding themselves deeply in Kazakhstan’s energy sector. The United States and Europe must act decisively to build stronger ties with Kazakhstan and Central Asia, if they are to achieve energy independence by securing their nuclear futures. Europe’s dependence on Russian natural gas has been its geopolitical Achilles’ heel for decades. Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, driving home the need to diversify energy sources, has further increased that vulnerability. Nuclear power offers Europe a path to energy independence. This hinges, however, on access to uranium, of which Europe imports 97% of its supply. Moreover, much of that uranium is enriched in Russia, creating a dependency analogous to that on Russian gas. That problem can be solved by deepening cooperation with Kazakhstan, the world’s largest uranium producer. Unfortunately, Europe’s engagement with Kazakhstan has been half-hearted at best; yet the country's reserves are essential for powering Europe’s nuclear plants. Strategic investments and partnerships are needed to unlock Kazakhstan’s role as a reliable uranium supplier to Europe, but logistical hurdles and a lack of political focus have so far stymied efforts to make that happen. Kazakhstan, the world's leading uranium producer, offers the United States a critical opportunity to secure its energy and national-security needs, yet Washington has ignored this and made little effort to deepen its ties with Kazakhstan. By contrast, China sources 60% of its uranium imports from Kazakhstan, supported by investments in mining and nuclear fuel facilities. Likewise, Russia has, through Rosatom, forged strong partnerships with Kazatomprom. These efforts give Beijing and Moscow significant leverage over global uranium markets. The U.S., however, has failed to foster the political and economic relationships necessary for long-term nuclear-energy security. Kazakhstan is a particularly glaring case in point. Over the past two decades, Kazakhstan has come to account for nearly half of global uranium production, giving it a key position in the global uranium supply chain. Neighboring Uzbekistan, the fifth-largest producer, adds another 6%, and Mongolia also has significant undeveloped reserves of future potential. Yet Kazakhstan remains heavily dependent on Russian infrastructure for uranium transport and enrichment. Until the late 2024 signature of an agreement to supply nearly half of its annual uranium ore production to China through the...

Energy

Kyrgyzstan Boosts Energy Capacity with Hydropower Plant Upgrade

On December 30, Kyrgyzstan marked a significant milestone by commissioning the modernized hydroelectric generating unit No. 4 at the Uch-Kurgan Hydropower Plant (HPP). This upgrade is a critical step in addressing the country’s chronic electricity shortages, particularly acute during the harsh winter months. The modernization increased the generating capacity of unit No. 4 by 20%. The project, which began in March 2024, was implemented by the China National Electric Engineering Company (CNEEC). Work on hydroelectric generating unit No. 3 is scheduled to begin in 2025. Upon completion of the overall modernization project, the operational lifespan of the Uch-Kurgan HPP will be extended by 25–30 years. The Uch-Kurgan HPP, situated on the Naryn River near Shamaldy-Sai in the Jalal-Abad region, plays a vital role in Kyrgyzstan’s energy supply. Its reservoir has a total capacity of 52.5 million cubic meters. Before reconstruction, the plant's total capacity stood at 180 MW, with four hydroelectric units producing 45 MW each. Operating since 1962, the plant had not undergone any major upgrades until now. Kyrgyzstan is actively upgrading its hydropower infrastructure to enhance energy production. On November 19, 2024, the country launched the modernized hydroelectric generating unit No. 1 at the Toktogul HPP, its largest power facility. The upgrade increased the unit’s capacity by 60 MW, raising the Toktogul HPP’s total capacity to 1,260 MW from its previous 1,200 MW. The Toktogul HPP currently provides approximately 40% of Kyrgyzstan's electricity. In addition to modernization projects, Kyrgyzstan is constructing the flagship Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant, which will have a projected capacity of 1,860 MW and an average annual generation of 5.6 billion kilowatt-hours. Upon completion, Kambarata-1 will become the country’s largest hydropower plant and is expected to eliminate Kyrgyzstan's electricity shortages. These developments reflect the country’s commitment to expanding its energy capacity, ensuring sustainable power supplies, and meeting the growing demands of its population and industries.

Energy Security

Kyrgyzstan Faces Electricity Deficit of 3.9 Billion Kilowatt-Hours

Kyrgyzstan is grappling with an electricity deficit of 3.9 billion kilowatt-hours as authorities struggle to resolve recurring winter energy shortages despite the construction of new hydroelectric power plants and electricity imports from neighboring countries. President Sadyr Japarov addressed the issue in a recent interview with the state news agency. Japarov acknowledged that the electricity shortfall remains unresolved, attributing it to the growing demand driven by an increasing number of social and infrastructure projects. “Our electricity is cheap. At a production cost of 2.7 Kyrgyz som (KGS) [approximately $0.031] per kilowatt-hour, consumers purchase it for 1.1 KGS. Additionally, under the Family Assistance program, we supply electricity to 69,000 families at a subsidized rate of 0.5 KGS per kilowatt-hour. Moreover, 186,000 consumers in mountainous areas receive electricity at 1.1 KGS without restrictions,” Japarov explained. The president also criticized wasteful electricity consumption in both public and private sectors, citing a lack of awareness and accountability. “Employees and heads of public institutions, schools, and kindergartens irresponsibly leave lights on in workspaces, assuming the state will pay for it. Similarly, street lighting remains on unnecessarily,” Japarov said. For the past 30 years, Kyrgyz citizens have endured periodic electricity blackouts. Japarov urged them to remain patient for another three to four years, assuring that the energy deficit would be resolved with the completion of the Kambarata Hydroelectric Power Plant-1 project, which is expected to stabilize the country's power supply.