Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to create JV for construction of Kambarata Hydro-1 on Naryn RiverThe governments of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan intend to sign an agreement to carry out a project for the construction of Kambarata Hydro Power Plant-1 (Kambarata HPP-1)on the Naryn River in Kyrgyzstan.A draft agreement that will be sealed to implement the project has been published in the Open Online Legal Database for public discussion until April 26.According to the document, the parties will create a joint stock company in Kyrgyzstan in accordance with the legislation of Kyrgyzstan with the following ownership structure: Kyrgyzstan - 34%, Kazakhstan - 33% and Uzbekistan - 33%.The main sources of financing for the project will be the company founders’ own funds, as well as borrowed funds and grants from international financial institutions and commercial banks.Upon completion of the project, all shares and assets of Kambarata HPP-1 will be passed into the ownership of Kyrgyzstan.In January 2016, Bishkek denounced the agreements signed with the Russian Federation in September 2012 on the construction and operation of the Upper Naryn cascade of HPPs and Kambarata HPP-1. The Kyrgyz government at the time said that one of the reasons was the lack of decisions on financing projects, as well as the serious increase in the cost of loans proposed by the Russian side that could be raised for construction.At the end of August 2023, Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Bakyt Torobayev said that the process of preparing for the construction of the Kambarata HPP-1 was being finalized. In particular, the construction of a highway, power substation, power transmission line, tunnels, bridges and settlements for builders is being completed. A joint venture between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan is being established at the same time.The HPP with a capacity of 1,860 MW is expected to generate five billion kWh of electricity per year. According to preliminary estimates, the dam will be 256 meters high and the volume of water accumulated at the hydropower plant may exceed 5 billion cubic meters.The Kyrgyz government said that plans are in place to put the first hydropower unit of the Kambarata HPP-1 into operation in 8 years.It was reported in March of this year that the World Bank will provide Kyrgyzstan a loan facility of $5 million to finance the construction of Kambarata HPP-1. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX