The Kambarata-1 HPP is a transformational greenfield energy project in the Kyrgyz Republic. It will enhance energy security, improve water use and strengthen regional cooperation in Central Asia. It will be built on the upstream reach of the Naryn River, with a design capacity of 1,860 Megawatts (MW), a 261-meter-high dam, and a 5.2 billion cubic meter reservoir. The plant will generate around 6,000 Gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity annually.
Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant Project (HPP)
Frequently Asked Questions
The Kambarata-1 HPP will address rising energy demand and alleviate energy shortages in the Kyrgyz Republic. Driven by economic gains and a rising population, demand across the region is expected to rise by 30% by 2030 and at least double by 2050—under business as usual scenario. But in recent years, seasonal shortages, estimated at 20% of domestic annual demand, have put the country’s energy security at risk. Neighboring countries experience similar shortages in winter, leaving the Kyrgyz Republic to seek emergency energy imports at high prices.
The project offers a wide range of benefits:
- Economic Growth
The Kambarata-1 HPP will help the electricity supply keep pace with economic growth in the Kyrgyz Republic and neighboring countries of Central Asia. Reliable power is key to improving the welfare of the region’s citizens.
- Energy Security
The project will generate clean energy as well as enable the large-scale deployment of solar and wind power in the Kyrgyz Republic and Central Asia. This will reduce the region’s carbon footprint and contribute to climate resilience, thereby accelerating the region’s energy transition.
- Better Water Security in Central Asia
Water storage from the project’s reservoir will help improve water use in the region. The electricity generated will help cover winter energy demands and provide both irrigation water and electricity in summer.
- Stronger Regional Cooperation
The Kambarata-1 HPP is a partnership between the Kyrgyz Republic and neighboring Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, with a cooperation agreement signed by the three countries in June 2024. The project steps up regional cooperation on energy and water security. Its joint implementation by the three countries is poised to strengthen electricity trade and connectivity in Central Asia.
- Jobs
Kambarata-1 HPP construction is expected to employ an average of about 5,000 people per year, with the workforce reaching around 7,000 during the peak construction years. Once operational, the plant will require around 200 permanent staff for operations and maintenance. In addition, it will stimulate job creation by facilitating solar and wind energy deployment in the region.
The Kambarata-1 HPP is being developed through a trilateral partnership among the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. The planned ownership structure envisions a joint venture (“Kambarata JV”) headquartered in the Kyrgyz Republic, with the Kyrgyz Republic holding 34% and Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan each holding 33%, in line with their expected financial contributions.
An Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) is currently being prepared to set out the principles of joint development, financing, ownership, and operation of the project. The IGA will also define the key principles of governance structure and institutional arrangements for the Kambarata JV, in line with international practices. Over the course of 2025–2026, the IGA is expected to be signed and ratified, paving the way for the Kambarata JV’s full operationalization.
The Kambarata-1 HPP is a strategically significant project for the Kyrgyz Republic and Central Asia. In light of the project's scale and regional importance, the government has enlisted the World Bank to serve as lead partner—supporting the design and implementation through technical, financial, environmental, and institutional assistance, and helping mobilize financing in collaboration with development partners and potential financiers.
The World Bank prioritizes energy, water, and regional connectivity as key pillars of its support in Central Asia. By supporting the Kambarata-1 HPP, the World Bank aims to bolster regional cooperation, improve the use of energy and water resources and promote sustainable economic growth across this region.
At the government’s request, the World Bank has supported the project from the outset, beginning with technical assistance to support comprehensive project preparation. In 2023, the Board approved $5 million, followed by an additional $13.6 million in 2024, to finance project preparation, including updates to the 2014 feasibility study and key environmental and social assessments and plans.
In addition, the World Bank is financing two independent panels of global experts: a Dam Safety Panel of Experts (DSPOE), and an Environmental and Social Panel of Experts (ESPOE). These panels help ensure due diligence and international quality standards, as well as provide independent advice and guidance. The panels are composed of recognized professionals who examine the documents and plans for the project to ensure they meet rigorous technical, economic, and social standards.
In 2024, the World Bank began preparing a Multiphase Program Approach (MPA) in support of the Kambarata-1 HPP construction. Once approved, this would provide up to $1.5 billion of concessional financing for the project to all three countries. If approved, the MPA will enable the World Bank to provide comprehensive support and technical oversight during project development, contract procurement, design, and construction works—thus helping ensure bankability and sustainability, in collaboration with development partners.
There is strong interest among development partners in the project. At the request of the Kyrgyz government, the World Bank is leading the Kambarata-1 Donor Coordination Committee, which was established in June 2024.
The committee comprises nine major international financial institutions and development partners, functioning as an effective multilateral platform aimed at providing a holistic and comprehensive support on the development of the Kambarata-1 HPP project within a sustainable macro-economic, commercial, environmental, and social framework.
The Donor Coordination Committee serves as a mechanism for joint oversight of project preparation and, later, implementation. It also ensures overall consistency and alignment in strategic advice provided to the government on key issues related to the project, as well as on broader energy sector reforms and sustainability.
As part of the World Bank's Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) for investment lending, stakeholder consultations are essential for promoting environmental and social sustainability, including enhancing transparency and inclusivity.
The government of the Kyrgyz Republic has hired an international firm, SMEC, to prepare a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) during project preparation. The SEP identifies key stakeholders, including project-affected people, partner countries downstream of the project (“riparian countries”), and other interested parties, and outlines the process for consultations and the public disclosure strategy. The plan also defines strategies for consultations, information sharing, and grievance management during implementation. Before the project is approved, a draft version of the SEP is publicly disclosed and consulted on with affected and interested stakeholders for finalization.
By actively engaging with these stakeholders, the project aims to address their concerns and ensure their voices are heard throughout the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) process, in line with international best practices. This collaborative approach will help develop solutions that are attuned to the community's needs, ultimately leading to a more successful and inclusive project.
Ongoing engagement also helps ensure that stakeholders, especially local residents, have continuous opportunities to provide input, raise and resolve emerging concerns, and stay informed about the project’s progress.
Yes, the first round of consultations with local communities took place in October-November 2024. Similar consultations at the national level, including with CSOs, took place in Bishkek on November 19, 2024. The second round of consultations is taking place in October 2025. The purpose is to have a meaningful dialogue with stakeholders – local, national, and international – so their input could inform the ongoing preparation of project’s environmental and social assessments and plans, as well as to collect their initial feedback.
The environmental and social aspects being assessed include potential restrictions on land use and movement, temporary disruptions from construction activities, the influx of workers during construction, changes in water flow patterns, impacts on electric power production in the country and on national and regional water use, and impacts on cultural sites and the environment.
Minutes of all project consultations are available at the Kambarata1.org website: https://kambarata1.org/en/events
Extensive consultations on various aspects of the project, including environmental and social risks and riparian impacts, will continue. This process includes the disclosure of draft versions of the environmental and social assessments and plans for review by all interested stakeholders, as well as subsequent public discussions at local, national and regional levels. These inputs are then reflected in updated documents before the project is considered by the World Bank’s Board.
Information on past and upcoming local, national, and regional (riparian) consultations is available at www.Kambarata1.org and is regularly updated.
All relevant documents and notices are posted on the official Kambarata-1 HPP website: www.Kambarata1.org
All projects financed by the World Bank are required to comply with the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF). The framework aims to ensure environmental sustainability, social development, and inclusion in projects undertaken with the Bank’s support.
The Ministry of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic has hired an international company, SMEC, working in cooperation with local partner company CAIC, to update the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). This document evaluates the project's potential impacts and proposes mitigation measures consistent with national requirements and international best practices.
In addition, the project is undertaking a systematic evaluation of anticipated changes to the river’s characteristics due to the dam, reservoir, and changes in flow. The ESIA will confirm the type and magnitude of impacts that need to be managed. The government will use its recommendations to decide on any measures to take to mitigate possible impacts, during design as well as construction of the facilities, and after construction.
Locally important biological resources in the project area – plants, fish, and land animals – will be studied, and any specific locations where they are abundant or seasons that are particularly important for their life cycle will be identified in the ESIA report, with recommendations to reduce potential adverse impacts to the extent possible incorporated into the management plans for the project.
Draft versions of the ESIA will be consulted on with local, national, and regional stakeholders, and disclosed.
The Naryn River has other HPPs already operating, and more are planned. How will the project align with wider development in the basin?
As part of the ESIA, the project has undertaken Cumulative Impact Assessment (available on the official Kambarata-1 HPP website: www.Kambarata1.org), which also covers other potential developments that are underway or firmly planned by government agencies. As part of the CIA, a multi-step process analyses and estimates the total impacts, direct and indirect, of hydropower project on the environment and local communities in the Naryn basin. These impacts are the sum of the significant incremental effects of past, present, or future activities, in addition to the impact of the proposed project. Strategies to manage any adverse impacts at supra project level are being formulated and shared with stakeholders. The CIA will be refined as more robust information becomes available. The Ministry of Energy will factor in these recommendations for management of future projects.
The Kambarata-1 HPP is being designed with climate resilience at its core. Regional climate studies project two main trends: a general rise in temperature and some change in overall precipitation. However, there may be seasonal shifts—with more rain falling instead of snow—and greater variability from year to year and within seasons. These potential changes are being taken into account during project preparation.
Based on the best available climate models, no significant adverse risks from climate change to the project’s viability are expected. Nonetheless, a range of future climate scenarios are being systematically assessed and integrated into the project’s design to ensure it can operate effectively even under conditions of reduced inflows or increased flow variability.
The project is also expected to provide downstream co-benefits in the context of a changing climate. By helping meet winter electricity demand in the Kyrgyz Republic, Kambarata-1 HPP would enable the cascade to improve water security situation in the country and region. In addition, the storage capacity and dam design of Kambarata-1 will help regulate river flows—mitigating seasonal extremes, supporting flood control, and reducing water scarcity risks across the region.
Environmental and Social Management Plans will also include climate-related adaptation and mitigation measures to help safeguard local communities and infrastructure, limiting exposure to climate-related risks to an acceptable level.
The project will carry out livelihood support activities in line with international good practices. This will help address temporary or permanent restrictions on using some sections of pasture lands, as well as the displacement of some structures that are used seasonally. For all the stakeholders affected by pasture use restrictions, support will be provided to restore the livelihoods existing before the project.
The ESIA is assessing the potential impact s to prepare a livelihood restoration and resettlement framework for those who are affected. The ESIA is also confirming the legal situation of the land and pasture use in the area and consulting with cadastral, tax, pasture management, and local authorities. A draft of this framework is being prepared and will be consulted on and disclosed accordingly. The final version will be completed after incorporating feedback from stakeholders gathered during the consultations.
The Bank is working with the Kyrgyz government to make sure that the voices of the most vulnerable are considered in project design and implementation, based on feedback received through wide-ranging public consultations and engagement with civil society organizations.
The Bank’s Multiphase Program Approach (MPA) requires a focus on implementation of social and environmental management plans. A component of the MPA will finance the implementation and monitoring of E&S instruments, including the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), and Livelihood Restoration and Resettlement Framework (LRRF).
The project's impacts on cultural heritage sites are being assessed by the ESIA. Recognizing the importance of local cultural sites, and based on the assessment findings, a Cultural Heritage Management Plan has been prepared, and its findings will be presented and consulted on during project preparation.
The World Bank’s ESF requires that an effective Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) be in place to allow stakeholders to raise concerns, provide feedback, and seek remedies related to the impacts of the project. The World Bank has been working closely with the Kambarata-1 Project Management Office to revise and strengthen an existing GRM and to help ensure its alignment with international good practices.
Local Level
An up-to-date list of local-level contacts can be viewed and downloaded at this link: https://kambarata1.org/en/contacts
Central Level
- Ministry of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic
Project Management Office
Address: 326 Jibek Jolu Ave., Bishkek city
Phone: +996 550 581157
Email: pmo.kambarata@gmail.com
- Online via the Kambarata-1 website: www.Kambarata1.org
In addition, the World Bank offers two mechanisms for communities and individuals that believe they are adversely affected by a project the Bank supports. Complaints may be submitted to:
- The World Bank’s Grievance Redress Service (GRS), which aims to ensure that complaints received are promptly reviewed to address project-related concerns; and/or
- The World Bank’s Independent Accountability Mechanism, which can determine compliance with Bank policies and procedures as well as address complaints through dispute resolution.
People affected by the project may file their complaints through the following channels:
- For information on how to submit complaints to the GRS, visit http://www.worldbank.org/GRS.
- For information on how to submit complaints to the Accountability Mechanism, visit https://accountability.worldbank.org.
To enhance the viability of the Kambarata-1 HPP, the World Bank draws on its global experience in developing large hydropower projects. This includes lessons learned and best practices on design quality, efficiency of implementation, and support to governments on technical standards, dam safety, governance, and environmental and social standards.
A highly experienced Project Management Consultant (PMC), expected to be financed with project funds, will be hired and be responsible for day-to-day project management on site, including managing coordination between contractors, ensuring technical quality, and monitoring contractors’ compliance with ESF requirements.
The Project Donor Coordination Committee will regularly conduct joint missions and will work closely with the PMC to ensure effective monitoring and regular reporting.
The Kambarata-1 HPP involves the construction of a dam 261-meter high. While most technical risks identified are typical for large hydropower projects, the project is adopting good practices in line with World Bank requirements to ensure dam safety and resilience.
To support this, a qualified consulting firm, AFRY, was hired to update the feasibility study and enhance the project’s design. A Dam Safety Panel of Experts (DSPOE), composed of international specialists, provides independent review and advice in line with international guidelines and good practices for dam safety. The DSPOE will continue to support the project during its design, construction, and initial filling and start-up phases of the dam.
Kambarata-1 project will be located in a seismically active area, which presents technical challenges. A preliminary seismic hazard assessment has already been carried out, and additional detailed investigations, including a micro-seismic assessment, are planned as part of the next stage of project design. This work will be undertaken by the Project Management Consultant (PMC), in close collaboration with the Kyrgyz Republic’s Academy of Science and the DSPOE, and its results will inform and be integrated into the final design. The PMC will also be responsible for construction supervision and quality assurance.
Phased dam safety plans are being developed in accordance with the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and reflect a strong focus on dam safety and risk management. A preliminary Operation and Maintenance Plan and a framework Emergency Preparedness Plan are also under preparation.