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Expert: Conducting Kyrgyz Kambarata HPP-1 international expertise to delay its construction

Kyrgyzstan Materials 14 December 2012 14:42 (UTC +04:00)
International independent expertise on the project of Kambarata HPP-1 in Kyrgyzstan will delay its construction, Russian expert on Central Asia, Alexander Knyazev believes.

Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 14 / Trend E. Kosolapova/

International independent expertise on the project of Kambarata HPP-1 in Kyrgyzstan will delay its construction, Russian expert on Central Asia, Alexandr Knyazev believes.

"A very similar example is the situation with the Rogun HPP in Tajikistan, which was also put to the international assessment lasting for several years," coordinator of the regional programs of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Knyazev told Trend on Friday.

Russia and Kyrgyzstan in September signed a bilateral agreement for the construction and operation of Kambarata HPP-1. Electricity of Kambarata HPP-1 can be used both to meet the demand of Kyrgyzstan and for export to neighboring countries. At the same time, Uzbekistan has repeatedly expressed concern about the construction of hydropower facilities in neighboring countries, which, according to Uzbek experts, may affect water and energy balance in the region. On Dec.13 Uzbekistan and Russia agreed to conduct an international independent expertise on the construction of Kambarata HPP-1 in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbek First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Azimov said.

According to Knyazev, no international expertise will approve the Kambarata HPP capacities the Kyrgyz party insists on, because such decision can spoil relations with Uzbekistan, which is a key country in the region in many spheres.

"The Kyrgyz party insists on building of dams with power capacity of 1.9 GW per year. This is huge power. I do not know what for it is needed. In fact, there is no market for it. Russia proposed the capacity of 850 MW per year. The issue has not been resolved. I think no international expertise will approve such great power, because no one wants to clash with Uzbekistan... Moscow understands this situation and found a diplomatic solution: to give the project to international organizations and pass these troubles to them," Knyazev said.

Any investor into the project will try to find a compromise with Uzbekistan through third parties, he said.

Moreover, according to the expert, implementation of Kambarata HPP-1 project is embarrassed by political instability in the country.

"The political instability in Kyrgyzstan has a permanent character and the investment climate in the country is very hard. Investors and even representatives of small and medium-sized businesses of Turkey, Iran, Kazakhstan and other countries leave the Republic," Knyazev said.

According to Knyazev, this situation is one more reason for Russia to delay the project.

"Transfer of project to the expertise to international organizations is a way to postpone the project until better times," Knyazev said.

Meanwhile, Knyazev does not believe Kyrgyzstan will find any other investors besides Russia for Kambarata HPP-1 project.

"The similar situation occurred in Tajikistan, which has been trying to find alternative investors for Rogun HPP project since 2004 when Tajik government came into conflict with the Russian Rusal, the former investor into the project. No investor has been found since that time," Knyazev said.

Moreover, according to expert, Uzbekistan can hamper construction of both Rogun HPP in Tajikistan and Kambarata HPP-1 in Kyrgyzstan by stopping communication.

"Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan depend on communications passing through Uzbekistan," Knyazev said.

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