Kyrgyzstan launches one of the largest energy projects in its history: construction of the Kazarman HPP cascade begins

The country's President Sadyr Japarov called the project one of the largest energy projects in the history of independent Kyrgyzstan. As reported by the Ministry of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic, the total investment is estimated at approximately $3 billion, and after completion of construction, the cascade will be able to generate over 3.75 billion kWh of electricity per year.

In Brief

·        Construction of the Kazarman HPP Cascade has begun in Kyrgyzstan.

·        The project includes three hydroelectric power plants with a total capacity of 912 MW.

·        Investments will amount to about $3 billion.

·        The average annual electricity generation will exceed 3.75 billion kWh.

·        The authorities aim to strengthen the country's energy independence and increase electricity exports.

Three Hydroelectric Power Plants on the Naryn River

The Kazarman Cascade will unite three hydroelectric power plants — Ala-Buga, Kara-Bulun-1, and Kara-Bulun-2. Their total installed capacity will be 912 MW, and annual generation will exceed 3.75 billion kWh. According to the President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, the project will become one of the symbols of a new stage in the development of the national energy sector.

The total construction cost is estimated at approximately $3 billion. The project is being implemented under an investment agreement with the company Orta Asya Investment Holding, signed in 2025.

Betting on Energy Independence

Kyrgyzstan traditionally relies on the development of hydropower, as it possesses significant hydropower potential from the Naryn River. The new capacities should reduce the seasonal electricity deficit, increase the stability of the power system, and create additional opportunities for exporting electricity to countries in the region.

The project is being implemented in parallel with the construction of the Kambarata HPP-1 and other hydropower facilities, which the authorities view as the foundation of the country's long-term energy strategy.

What This Means for Kazakhstan

The development of Kyrgyzstan's hydropower is gradually changing the energy balance of Central Asia. The commissioning of new generating capacities can increase the volume of regional electricity trade and enhance the stability of the unified power system, of which Kazakhstan remains a part.

Earlier, Hunn.kz reported on the World Bank's decision to allocate $300 million for the second phase of construction of the Rogun HPP in Tajikistan. Both projects show that Central Asian countries are simultaneously ramping up electricity production, aiming not only to meet domestic demand but also to form a more tightly integrated regional energy market.

At the same time, the increase in hydropower generation inevitably raises the importance of managing transboundary water resources, since the region's largest energy projects are being implemented in the basins of the Naryn and Amu Darya rivers.

Author's Conclusion

The Kazarman HPP Cascade is not just another construction project, but part of a large-scale transformation of the energy sector in Central Asia. If just a few years ago the region was mainly modernizing existing capacities, today several multi-billion dollar megaprojects are being implemented simultaneously. For Kazakhstan, this means the gradual formation of a new regional electricity market, where energy security is increasingly intertwined with issues of investment, exports, and water resource management.