Bishkek, May 2, 2023. / Kabar /. The World Bank will provide a USD 200 million grant to update the feasibility study for the Kambarata HPP-1 project, Minister of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic Taalaibek TOLD on the air oF Birinchi Radio.
He said that earlier the WB allocated the same amount for updating the feasibility study, which was developed in 2014.
“The amount of the project, which was fixed in 2014, was USD 2.8 billion. Since then, a lot of time has passed and prices have risen. In this regard, the project documents need to be brought into line with market realities,” Ibraev explained.
He said that the issue of updating the feasibility study was discussed jointly with representatives of the WB and ministries of energy of the five countries of Central Asia.
“Last time the World Bank gathered representatives of five Central Asian countries in London. We were asked how we feel about the energy union. Then our colleagues from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan asked the World Bank to provide funding for the project. Then our delegation, headed by Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Akylbek Zhaparov, met with representatives of the World Bank in Washington, where I made a presentation of the project, after which a decision was made to provide another USD 200 million. In total, we will be allocated a grant of USD 400 million, which will be used to update the feasibility study,” Ibraev said.
The minister noted that the cost of the project will be determined after the feasibility study is updated. After determining the cost, the project can be offered to investors. According to Ibraev, the Russian side, Chinese companies, as well as consortia companies from Turkiye, Pakistan and China are interested in the joint construction of the hydropower station.
“We have a choice. We sent the terms of reference to the World Bank. Then we will update the feasibility study, find out the cost and start talking with investors,” he said.
Kambar-Ata 1 HPP is the largest power facility in the cascade of Naryn HPPs. The project involves the construction of a 256-meter-high rockfill dam and a station with an installed capacity of 1,860 megawatts, with an average annual output of 5.6 billion kilowatt-hours and a total reservoir volume of 5.4 billion cubic meters.
The start of the construction of the Kambar-Ata 1 HPP was given by the Kyrgyz President on June 8 last year.
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