EU and partners step up support for Kambarata-1 hydropower project to drive Central Asia’s energy transition

“he European Union and its financial partners have announced new support for hydropower development in Central Asia, centred on the Kambarata-1 hydropower plant in Kyrgyzstan. The cooperation, unveiled at the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, aims to expand renewable electricity generation, improve regional energy cooperation, and strengthen water security across Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

At the Forum, the EU, the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) signed a Memoranda of Understanding to advance the Kambarata-1 project. The EU and EIB formalized €900 million in agreements with Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, alongside a feasibility study co-funded by the EU and implemented by the World Bank. The EBRD also signed memoranda with the same countries and is considering an overall €1.3 billion financing package in potential support of the project.

European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela said the investment reflects the EU’s long-term commitment to sustainable energy development in the region.”