President Sadyr Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan stated in a recent interview with local media that the construction costs of the Kambarata-1 hydropower plant (HPP) in Kyrgyzstan, estimated at $5-6 billion, will be fully recovered within 13-15 years after the completion and commissioning of the HPP.
Zhaparov mentioned that the construction period of the HPP is expected to last 8-10 years, and the maximum time to fully repay the cost of Kambarata-1, including construction expenses, is 25 years.
He also highlighted that the World Bank is providing a $500 million loan for the project with a 50-year term and a 10-year grace period at no interest, making it a very favorable credit option for Kyrgyzstan.
According to the Ministry of Energy in Kyrgyzstan, the Kambarata-1 Hydropower Project is one of the largest in Central Asia, situated on the Naryn River. The HPP will have a capacity of 1,860 MW and a reservoir volume of 5.4 billion cubic meters, with an expected annual power generation of 5.6 billion kWh.
In November 2023, the World Bank had previously provided $5 million for technical assistance in revising the feasibility study for the Kambarata-1 HPP.
