From September 21 to 23, 2026, Almaty hosted the third round of trilateral negotiations between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan on the draft intergovernmental agreement for the joint implementation of the Kambar-Ata-1 Hydropower Plant Project. The talks, attended by officials responsible for energy, water resources, and foreign affairs, as well as representatives of the World Bank, addressed several provisions of the draft agreement that had yet to be resolved. Following the negotiations, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to continuing their work based on mutual respect and consideration of each country’s interests, while seeking mutually acceptable solutions.[i]
The initiative undertaken within the framework of the Kambar-Ata-1 Project can be viewed as an effort to elevate cooperation over shared water resources to the regional level. In this context, the issue is not shaped solely by the traditional tension between the interests of upstream countries and the needs of downstream countries; rather, it represents a different model of cooperation based on joint investment and governance, mutual interests, and coordinated water management. Indeed, prior to the negotiations in Almaty, the first round of negotiations was held in Bishkek from March 31 to April 2, 2026, while the second round took place in Tashkent from April 28 to 30, 2026[ii] ,and the fact that the parties have convened for the third time in the same year indicates the countries’ determination to institutionalize cooperation. This process could, in the long term, also pave the way for the development of a more permanent regional cooperation mechanism in the fields of water and energy.
The foundations of the Kambar-Ata-1 Project were laid in 1986 during the Soviet era. However, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, work on the project was interrupted. After remaining unrealized for many years, the project was revived in 2022 under Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov. İTwo years later, with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan joining the project[iii] ,Kambar-Ata-1 gradually took on a more regional character.
Therefore, the revival by Kyrgyzstan of a project that had remained dormant for an extended period, followed by its transformation into a joint initiative with the participation of two neighboring countries, reflects not only the development of Kambar-Ata-1 itself but also the transformation taking place in regional relations and cooperation.
However, a large-scale hydropower project such as Kambar-Ata-1 brings to the fore the existing dilemma in Central Asia between the use of water resources for energy generation and agricultural irrigation. While agricultural water use is particularly important for the downstream countries of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, hydropower generation is more prominent for the upstream countries of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.[iv] In this regard, achieving a balance between agricultural water needs and hydropower generation constitutes one of the key issues in regional water and energy management.
While the issues addressed in the latest talks concern several key aspects related to managing the water-energy dilemma, the outcomes made public do not indicate that this structural issue has yet been addressed comprehensively. At this stage, the parties have focused on issues such as the joint implementation and management of the project, financing matters, and the allocation of responsibilities among the countries, which could form the institutional basis of future cooperation.[v]
On the other hand, the World Bank, which has provided technical support since 2023 for the development of Kambar-Ata-1 in accordance with international standards in terms of design, safety, and implementation, and contributed to the preparation of the draft intergovernmental agreement, participated in the latest negotiations as an observer,[vi] indicating that coordination among the three countries is gradually being supported by technical and institutional mechanisms.
Therefore, at the current stage, more time is needed to assess the extent to which the emerging cooperation mechanism can manage the water-energy dilemma in the region. However, the latest talks held in September point to the potential for a significant shift in this regard. The involvement of three countries with different interests, needs, and priorities in the implementation and management of the project could allow different perspectives to be reflected in decision-making processes, thereby enabling the future of the project to be jointly shaped within a more inclusive framework that takes mutual interests into account. At the same time, such a cooperation model could pave the way for deeper cooperation among the three countries in the fields of water and energy, while also contributing to diversifying the project’s financing sources and facilitating access to international financing.
The need to strengthen regional cooperation in water and energy can also be seen through the environmental crisis in the Aral Sea. Although the region’s water and energy resources were managed under a centralized system during the Soviet era, the excessive and unsustainable use of water resources led to the Aral Sea shrinking by approximately 90%.[vii]
This example demonstrates not only the importance of strengthening regional water cooperation, but also the need to manage the water-energy dilemma and ensure the sustainable use of shared water resources. This experience shows that the different needs of upstream and downstream countries, as well as environmental impacts, should be taken into account together in the use of water resources. From this perspective, the example further highlights the importance of involving the three countries with different interests, needs, and priorities in the joint decision-making and management processes under Kambar-Ata-1.
In conclusion, the three rounds of negotiations held in 2026 demonstrate the parties’ willingness and determination to develop a common approach within the framework of Kambar-Ata-1. However, the success of this cooperation will depend on the extent to which the existing political will can be translated into the implementation of the project. In this regard, it is important that the project be supported by coordinated seasonal reservoir operations, accessible and predictable financing, joint decision-making processes, and environmental safeguards. If a sustainable balance can be established between different interests and needs in this process, the trilateral cooperation developing around Kambar-Ata-1 could evolve into a more permanent regional water and energy cooperation mechanism based on mutual benefits and responsibilities.
[i] Arailym Temirgaliyeva, “Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan hold 3rd round of talks on Kambar-Ata-1 HPP project”, Kazinform, https://qazinform.com/news/kazakhstan-kyrgyzstan-and-uzbekistan-hold-3rd-round-of-talks-on-kambar-ata-1-hpp-project-051b35, (Access Date: 04.10.2026).
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] “About the Kambar-Ata-1 HPP Project: History, Objectives and Significance of the Project”, Kambarata-1 HPP, https://kambarata1.org/en/about, (Access Date: 04.10.2026).
[iv] Kato T. “Strengthening the water-energy nexus for a climate resilient Central Asia”, OECD Green Growth Papers, https://doi.org/10.1787/632162c2-en, (Access Date: 04.10.2026).
[v] Anvar Umarov, “Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Discuss Kambarata HPP-1”, UzDaily, https://www.uzdaily.uz/en/uzbekistan-kazakhstan-and-kyrgyzstan-discuss-kambarata-hpp-1/, (Access Date: 04.10.2026).
[vi] “Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant Project (HPP)”, World Bank, https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/kambarata-1-hpp, (Access Date: 04.10.2026).
[vii] Kato T., “Strengthening the water-energy nexus for a climate resilient Central Asia”, opcit.
