Kambarata HPP-1 is another step towards energy independence of Kyrgyzstan

The construction of Kambar-Ata HPP-1(hydropower plant) has started in Jalal-Abad Oblast on June 8. The construction of the Kambarata HPP-1 project is the largest power facility from the entire composition of the Kambarata HPP cascade, which provides for the construction of a rockfill dam with a height of 256 m and a HPP with a capacity of 1860 MW, with an average annual power generation of 5.6 billion kWh and a total reservoir capacity of 5, 4 billion m³ of water. The construction period will be from 8 to 10 years. The first hydraulic unit of the HPP is planned to put into operation in four years. “Today we are starting the construction of one of the largest hydroelectric power plants in Central Asia, which will ensure the energy security and independence of our country!”, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov said speaking at the event on the occasion of the start of the construction of the hydro power plant, expressing confidence that the implementation of the project would play an important role in the pace of development of the country, will make a great contribution to the welfare of the Kyrgyz people and improve the economy. It is noteworthy that the Kambarata HPP-1 will become the largest facility of the entire cascade of Kambarata HPPs located in the middle reaches of the Naryn River, with a capacity of about 1,900 MW and an annual electricity generation of 5.6 billion kWh. The reservoir with a volume of 4.65 billion cubic meters will carry out seasonal regulation of the flow of the Naryn River in the interests of energy, compensating for the decrease in winter energy efficiency of the Nizhny Naryn HPP cascade (Toktogul HPP, Kurpsai HPP and others). Therefore, an important advantage of the Kambarata HPP-1 will be the independence of operation from restrictions in winter, since the water from the plant will be accumulated in the Toktogul reservoir. In addition, with the full launch of the Kambar-Ata-1 HPP, conditions will be created for the operation of the Kambar-Ata HPP-2 at full capacity, starting to use the second and third units, which subsequently increases its capacity. “As a result, we will be able to fully operate these two important hydroelectric power plants and produce 1,000 MW, which is equivalent to the current volume of electricity generated at the Toktogul HPP,” Zhaparov said at the event. The annual net profit of the country as a result of the launch of Kambarata HPP-1 will be more than USD 234 million. This amount consists of the ability to sell each produced kWh, and 5.6 billion kWh of electricity per year for 5.15 US cents, within the framework of the CASA-1000 project. This circumstance will undoubtedly make a significant contribution to the economy of the Kyrgyz Republic. In addition, the launch of the Kambar-Ata HPP-1 will benefit not only Kyrgyzstan, but also Central Asia by solving irrigation problems in neighboring countries and contributing to the stabilization of the water and energy balance in the region. It is worth paying attention to the fact that there is already a prepared part of the infrastructure (roads, quarries), a close location to the 500kV high voltage Datka-Kemin line, which will ensure the Kambarata HPP-1 to have the lowest costs for the power distribution scheme and the issues of energy supply to the population of the republic in winter will be decided. In the future, the growth of electricity consumption in the country will be satisfied. Project financing Kyrgyzstan will allocate KGS 1.5 billion from the republican budget for the preparatory work for the construction of the Kambar-Ata HPP-1. To date, KGS 412.8 million have been allocated from the Kyrgyz Republic's own funds for the research, feasibility studies and other work. The funds will be used to build a transport tunnel to the construction site, a bridge connecting the two banks of the Naryn River, high-voltage power lines, roads and a workers' camp. The rest of the necessary funds, as planned, will be attracted from partners. “The implementation of the preparatory work will increase the interest of investors and partners in the main construction site. Taking this opportunity, I would like to inform interested partners that we are ready to cooperate in the implementation of this project,” Zhaparov said at the event: What's next? Since 1991, international financial organizations and partner countries have invested more than USD 1 billion in the republic's hydropower, but these funds have not been able to improve the current situation of the state. The country couldn’t achieve the energy security having modernized and reconstructed Toktogul HPP and the Bishkek Thermal Power Plant. To do this, as mentioned earlier, it is necessary to implement the project for the construction of the Upper Naryn cascade of HPPs and Kambar-Ata-1, which will already make it possible to receive additional profit from the export of electricity within the framework of the CASA-1000 project. Today, Kyrgyzstan uses only 10-11% of its hydropower potential. At the same time, all electricity is generated at the Nizhne-Naryn HPP cascade, built back in Soviet times, which is the only complex operating in the country that includes 5 hydropower plants: Toktogul - 1200 megawatts, Kurpsai - 800 megawatts, Tashkumyr - 450 megawatts, Shamaldysai - 240 megawatts and Uchkurgan - 180 megawatts. Power engineers indicate that in connection with the population growth rate and the increase in the number of enterprises in Kyrgyzstan, these capacities are no longer enough, and given the desire of Kyrgyzstan to export electricity to South Asia, the search for new companies to implement the project for the construction of the Upper Naryn cascade of hydropower plants and Kambar-Ata-1 is important for the country. Therefore, in the future, it is necessary to build not only the Kambar-Ata HPP -1, but also such hydropower plants as Suusamyr-Kokomeren, Sary-Jaz, Kazarman and the Upper Naryn Cascade. Only after that it will be possible to loudly declare about the achievement of the energy security and independence of the republic. At the same time, its necessary not to forget about previous experience, from which it is clear that the huge funds invested in the rehabilitation of existing HPPs in the country will not give any effect. And attracting foreign companies from scratch to start the construction of a hydropower plant in the Kyrgyz Republic is unreliable. Kabar News Agency