Kyrgyzstan attracts global attention as it prepares to unleash hydropower might

Central Asia is quickly emerging as a new arena for global strategic competition—not only over oil, gas, or critical minerals, but increasingly over clean energy. With vast hydropower potential, Kyrgyzstan aims to position itself as a central player in the global energy transition, offering a sustainable source of electricity and a foundation for deeper regional cooperation.

The landlocked nation of around seven million people has long depended on fossil fuels, particularly coal, for electricity generation. Yet its hydropower capacity is immense, with an article by Geopolitical Monitor estimating that more than 90% of Kyrgyzstan’s electricity could theoretically come from renewable sources.

Recognizing this opportunity, Kyrgyzstan is working to rebalance its energy profile by promoting renewables while slowly reducing its reliance on coal. Aware of the country’s green energy potential, the European Union has committed €900 million to build the Kambarata Hydroelectric Power Plant, a major dam in central Kyrgyzstan. This marks one of the largest EU investments outside its borders and forms part of the €12 billion Global Gateway initiative—more than half of which is dedicated to hydropower and climate-related projects.

“We are proud to support the future construction of the Kambarata-1 hydropower plant that is key to energy production in Central Asia,” European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela recently said, noting that the EU’s investments strengthen its strategic partnership with Central Asian states.

For the EU, the project carries geopolitical as well as environmental significance. Backing Kyrgyzstan’s hydropower sector enhances the country’s energy security, advances decarbonization, and reinforces political ties in a region where Russia’s dominance has weakened.

"The EU undoubtedly sees the project not just as infrastructure but as a cornerstone of a broader strategy to shape Central Asia’s future energy landscape."

Kambarata-1 embodies this strategy. Beyond producing clean electricity, it elevates Kyrgyzstan’s regional importance by enabling regulated water flows, improving irrigation, providing flood control, and supporting climate adaptation. In a region expected to face severe water shortages in the coming years, strategically managed reservoirs and hydro cascades will be essential for safeguarding both energy and water security.

As the United States and China compete for influence in Central Asia through trade and infrastructure investments, the EU is carving out its own strategic foothold through the clean energy transition. For all three powers, Kyrgyzstan’s renewable resources are not only environmentally valuable but also economically and politically strategic.

It is therefore unsurprising that Kyrgyzstan’s efforts to become a regional clean energy hub have attracted unprecedented international interest and financing. Kambarata-1 has drawn support not only from the EU and the European Investment Bank, but also from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, and the OPEC Fund.

Alongside Kambarata-1, Bishkek is pushing forward with the Kulanak hydropower plant, another major project intended to bolster regional energy security. As President Sadyr Japarov stated in 2022 during the plant’s groundbreaking, ensuring national energy independence is one of the government’s top priorities.

“We are currently using only 10 percent of our total energy potential. If we develop the remaining 90 percent, we will be able to sell electricity not only to the Central Asian countries, but also to Europe and China,” Japarov stressed, underscoring that Kyrgyzstan’s energy ambitions extend beyond domestic development to broader regional stability.

With Central Asia’s energy demand projected to rise by 40% by 2030 and to triple by 2050, hydropower projects such as Kambarata-1 and Kulanak are crucial for meeting future needs. By reducing reliance on coal and gas, these projects can help cut air pollutant emissions by roughly 31.4 tons per year and support the region’s wider decarbonization goals.

By Nazrin Sadigova