The World Bank is the main financial donor and organiser of the Kambarata HPP-1 construction project. This was stated by Hugh Riddell, the Head of the World Bank's office in Kyrgyzstan, at a meeting with the media on the International Day Against Poverty occasion. 

Riddell informed that the World Bank has adopted a new strategy of working with Kyrgyzstan until 2028, which covers key areas such as water resources, agriculture and energy. One of the central energy projects is the Kambarata HPP-1, which the World Bank sees as a critical infrastructure project in the region. 

"Kambarata HPP-1 plays a key role in Central Asia's water management, ensuring water security not only for Kyrgyzstan but also for neighbouring Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The World Bank is proud to be the lead financial partner in this project,’ Riddell emphasised. 

He noted that the World Bank is assisting the Kyrgyz government in finding additional investors for the hydropower plant construction.

"In the first stage, we allocated $20 million for technical studies and updating the feasibility study. The project was previously estimated at $4-5 billion, and although the market situation has changed, we are confident that the project will be self-sustaining and cost-effective,’ he explained. 

Nevertheless, Riddell noted that the World Bank is unable to fund the project alone. Additional financial partners are needed to realise the construction.

"In a recent mission to attract investors, organisations such as the Asian Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, OPEC Fund and other bilateral funds have shown interest in the project. Although final funding decisions have not yet been made, they have all expressed their desire to be part of this project,’ Hugh Riddell concluded.