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EDB Begins Pre-Feasibility Study for Hydropower Plant Cascade in Kyrgyzstan

The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Economy and Commerce have signed a technical assistance agreement to initiate a pre-feasibility study for the Hydropower Plant (HPP) Cascade Project. The announcement was made on March 26 and marks a significant step forward in the development of one of Kyrgyzstan’s most ambitious energy infrastructure projects. This agreement builds on the existing partnership between the EDB and the Ministry, established under a Memorandum of Cooperation signed in December 2024. Scope of the Study Under the agreement, the EDB will finance the pre-feasibility study, which will include: Estimating preliminary capital expenditures Developing key technical solutions Assessing environmental and social impacts Outlining state support measures needed for project implementation The study will be carried out in collaboration with the Ministry and a designated consulting firm. Strategic Importance of the Suusamyr-Kokomeren Cascade The planned hydropower cascade will be situated on the Kokomeren River and consist of three power plants with a combined installed capacity of 1,305 MW. The project is expected to significantly enhance Kyrgyzstan’s electricity generation capacity, help meet growing domestic energy demands, and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Hydropower is a cornerstone of Kyrgyzstan’s renewable energy strategy, and the Suusamyr-Kokomeren project is envisioned as a key driver of energy security and regional development. Regional and International Cooperation The EDB is a multilateral development institution comprising six member states: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. It finances regional development projects that foster economic integration across Eurasia. It is worth noting that in early 2024, Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Energy signed memorandums of understanding with China National Electric Engineering Co. Ltd. These agreements include cooperation on the construction of both the Suusamyr-Kokomeren HPP Cascade and the Kara-Kechin thermal power plant. Together, these initiatives underscore Kyrgyzstan’s strategic push to diversify its energy portfolio and strengthen infrastructure through international partnerships and sustainable energy investments.

Hydropower HPP Naryn River Power Shortage

Turkish Company to Build Hydropower Plants in Kyrgyzstan and New Heat and Power Plant for Bishkek

Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Energy and Turkish open joint-stock company Orta Asya Investment Holding signed a protocol of intent on February 27 to construct the Kazarman cascade of hydroelectric power plants (HPP) on the Naryn River, with a total capacity of 912 MW. New Hydropower Projects According to the Ministry of Energy, the agreement includes preparations for an investment agreement and a feasibility study for the project. Orta Asya Investment Holding has expressed interest in constructing three hydropower plants in the cascade: Ala-Buga HPP - 600 MW Kara-Bulun-1 HPP - 149 MW Kara-Bulun-2 HPP = 163 MW Together, these HPPs will generate 3.746 billion kWh of electricity annually, significantly contributing to Kyrgyzstan’s growing energy demands. New Heat and Power Plant for Bishkek On the same day, the Ministry of Energy and Orta Asya Investment Holding discussed the construction of a 250 MW natural gas-fired combined heat and power plant (CHPP-2) in Bishkek. The project is estimated to take 2 - 4 years, with a budget of $443 million. Orta Asya Investment Holding has committed to investing approximately 3 billion KGS (about $34 million) in the project. The Ministry and the company have agreed to finalize a feasibility study for Bishkek CHPP-2 within three months and then begin implementation. Once completed, CHPP-2 will: Increase the country’s energy capacity. Ensure stable electricity and heat supply for residents and businesses. Improve Bishkek’s environmental situation by using natural gas, a cleaner energy source. CHPP-2 will be Bishkek’s second power plant, reducing reliance on the city’s aging Thermal Power Plant (TPP). Power Shortage in Bishkek Bishkek, home to over one million residents, currently relies on a single power plant for both electricity and heating. The Bishkek TPP produces approximately 13% of Kyrgyzstan’s total electricity output, with the remainder coming from hydropower plants. The TPP also provides heat and hot water to nearly two-thirds of the capital. However, the aging plant has suffered two major accidents in recent years: January 2018 - A breakdown left the city without heating for three days in freezing temperatures. February 2, 2024 - An explosion seriously injured three people and forced authorities to impose hot water and heating restrictions in some parts of the city. Following the 2024 accident, the government prohibited newly built high-rise residential buildings from connecting to the existing TPP heating system. Once completed, Bishkek CHPP-2 is expected to meet the city’s growing heating needs and reduce the risk of energy shortages.

Roadmap HPP Hydropower

Kazakhstan to Help Build Small Hydropower Plants in Kyrgyzstan

The energy ministries of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have signed a roadmap for the construction of small hydropower plants (HPPs) in Kyrgyzstan. The agreement, signed on February 25 during a visit by the Chairman of Kyrgyzstan's Cabinet of Ministers, Adylbek Kasymaliyev, to Kazakhstan, aims to enhance energy cooperation between the two nations, and support Kyrgyzstan’s efforts to develop its hydropower potential. Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister, Almasadam Satkaliyev, emphasized Kazakhstan’s commitment to regional cooperation in the energy sector. “We consider this a guarantee of stability and prosperity for all of Central Asia. The signing of the roadmap with Kyrgyzstan is further proof of our commitment to this goal. We are ready to share our experience and resources to build an energy-independent future together," he said. In recent years, Kyrgyzstan has intensified its efforts to boost electricity generation and address chronic power shortages by modernizing existing and constructing new hydropower plants. One of the largest ongoing projects is Kambarata-1, a joint initiative involving Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Kambarata-1, once completed, will be the largest hydropower plant in Kyrgyzstan. The project is expected to enhance regional cooperation in water and energy resource management. Discussions on the progress of Kambarata-1 are ongoing, involving Central Asian countries and the World Bank. The Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan hydropower cooperation marks another step toward strengthening Central Asia’s energy infrastructure. With Kazakhstan’s expertise and resources, Kyrgyzstan is expected to make significant progress in achieving energy security and sustainability.

World Bank Kambarata HPP Energy Infrastructure Energy Security

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.

Exclave Ferghana Valley Enclave HPP Regional Cooperation

Heads of Kyrgyz, Tajik, and Uzbek Governments Meet… Finally

It took more than 30 years, but the prime ministers of the three Central Asian countries that share the Ferghana Valley finally met to discuss a range of important issues that concern all three states. Tajik Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda, Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, and Chairman of Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers (Kyrgyzstan does not have a post of prime minister) Adylbek Kasymaliyev met on January 8 at a desolate area where the borders of the three countries meet. [caption id="attachment_27412" align="aligncenter" width="8256"] Image: gov.kg[/caption] The group touted agreements on the completion of the delimitation process along the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border and the early December 2024 agreement on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border. Since 1991, unmarked areas of the borders in the Ferghana Valley were often the scenes of conflicts between communities on either side of the frontier. Border guards sometimes fired on trespassers and dozens of people were killed or wounded, sometimes simply because they inadvertently strayed over unmarked territory into the neighboring country. The Ferghana Valley is the most densely populated region in Central Asia. This is due to the rich agricultural land which makes the region to this day the breadbasket of Central Asia. Soviet mapmakers drew lines to create Soviet republics in the region, though these borders mattered little since they were internal administrative boundaries inside one country. [caption id="attachment_27413" align="aligncenter" width="8256"] Image: gov.kg[/caption] After the USSR collapsed, these often-arbitrary, zigzagging borders took on meaning, and disputes quickly broke out about what land historically belonged to which nation and who had rights to water use. These issues were greatly complicated by the existence of enclaves created during the Soviet period such as Uzbekistan’s Soh and Shahimardon and Tajikistan’s Vorukh, all three of which are surrounded by Kyrgyzstan. Looking Ahead The three prime ministers discussed hydropower plants (HPP), an important topic for all three countries, especially as key HPPs are located in the mountains ringing the Ferghana Valley and more are currently under construction. Central Asia is one the regions most affected by climate change, so HPPs and water use in general are crucial issues, especially given that agriculture in the Ferghana Valley is vital to all three countries. All three countries face electricity shortages and hydropower is seen as a means of alleviating or even totally resolving this dilemma, but at the same time waters flowing from the mountains of Kyrgyzstan are important for agriculture in every Central Asian state. Uzbek media noted Uzbek Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamahmudov was part of the delegation attending the January 8 talks. Reports did not mention if energy ministers from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan were also present. [caption id="attachment_27414" align="aligncenter" width="8256"] Image: gov.kg[/caption] Central Asia is also taking on a new importance as a trade corridor between Europe and China, and from Europe and China into Afghanistan and on further to Pakistan. Reports noted logistics were high on the agenda at the meeting of the three prime ministers. Trade between the three countries, specifically in the Ferghana Valley, was also discussed not only...

Rogun HPP HPP Energy Infrastructure Hydropower Finance AIIB

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.