Deputy Mirlan Samykozho of the Jogorku Kenesh requested to show the tripartite agreement on the construction and operation of the Kambaratinskaya HPP-1 during a meeting of the parliamentary committee on fuel and energy complex, subsoil use, and industrial policy.
Previously, MP Chingiz Aydarbekov expressed dissatisfaction with the size of Kyrgyzstan's share in the project. The Kyrgyz Republic's share is 34 percent, while the Kazakh and Uzbek sides will each receive 33 percent. According to the deputy, under these conditions, Kyrgyzstan will lose control over the water resource and the strategic object.
The head of the Ministry of Energy, Taalaibek Ibraev, assured that neighbors would not interfere in water issues. However, MP Mirlan Samykozho also expressed concern about the agreement between the three countries and asked the Minister of Energy to present the document for public discussion before its ratification by the parliament.
Taalaibek Ibraev responded that nothing has been built in the energy sector for 30 years and if the contract is not signed, nothing will be constructed for the same amount of time. "We have just turned the phrase 'for 30 years' into a trend. We are talking about a 33 percent share. Will you disclose the agreement on this issue or not?" countered Mirlan Samykozho.
The Minister stated that the document would be submitted to parliament for ratification and would receive support. "You confidently say that deputies will support this project. But what if we do not approve the agreement?" the deputy asked. Taalaibek Ibraev replied that the 33 percent share of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan does not mean that this volume of the HPP becomes the property of these countries.
"This means that if the HPP produces 5.6 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, the Kazakh and Uzbek sides will buy 33 percent. If the construction cost of 'Kambar-Aty-1' is $4.5 billion, they will invest 33 percent of the total amount," noted the head of the Ministry of Energy.
In January 2023, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan signed a roadmap for the construction of the Kambaratinskaya HPP-1. Its total capacity will be 1,860 megawatts.
