Dubai (TDI): Energy ministers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan met in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for the second high-level meeting on the Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant (HPP) project.
Kambarata-1 is a flagship regional project aimed to boost energy security and water management across Central Asia. The planned hydropower facility, with a capacity of 1,860 megawatts, will be established on the Naryn River in Kyrgyzstan.
The delegations were led by Energy Ministers Taalaibek Ibraev (Kyrgyzstan), Yerlan Akkenzhenov (Kazakhstan) and Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov (Uzbekistan). High-level representatives from the finance and water ministries of the three nations also attended the meeting.
During the meeting, the ministers formally requested technical cooperation from the World Bank. This includes a new feasibility study, environmental and social impact assessments, and the development of a robust financial and commercial implementation model.
The World Bank delegation included several key officials, including Tatiana Proskuryakova, Regional Director for Central Asia; Carolina Sánchez-Páramo, Director for Strategy and Operations in Europe and Central Asia; Charles Joseph Cormier, Regional Infrastructure Director for ECA; and Stephanie Gil, Program Leader for Energy.
“We are pleased to cooperate with the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan in developing the Kambarata-1 project,” said Proskuryakova. “It will bring significant economic and social benefits to the Central Asia.”
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The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the initiative, terming it as a cornerstone of regional energy integration.
They reviewed progress since the first meeting in Tashkent in January. Discussions focused on revised cost estimates, grid modernization requirements, financing strategies, and the significance of strong environmental and social protections.
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Kazakhstan’s Yerlan Akkenzhenov underlined the collaborative nature of the project, stating that Kazakhstan completely supporting this initiative and will continue working closely with its regional partners.
Kyrgyzstan’s Taalaibek Ibraev highlighted the national importance of the HPP. While Uzbekistan’s Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov highlighted the tangible progress already made.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
