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Russia’s Energy Minister arrives in Kyrgyzstan to discuss cooperation.

Moscow planned to allocate over $ 1 billion for the construction of hydropower facilities in Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, March 27 (Itar-Tass) — A Russian delegation led by Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko has arrived in Kyrgyzstan to discuss the strengthening of bilateral cooperation, an official at the Kyrgyzstani government staff told Itar-Tass.

“Delegation members are expected to meet with Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov,” the official said. “In the course of the consultations, the sides will exchange opinions on the pathways for development of bilateral economic relations, including the ones related to the energy sector.”

In the meantime, experts believe Russia’s engagement in the construction of Kambar-Ata-1 hydropower project on the River Naryn and a cascade of hydro plants in the upper reaches of the same river will be one of the central issues at the Russian-Kyrgyzstani talks.

An initial agreement on this was reached back in 2009 but the former President of Kyrgyzstan, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, took steps towards shelving the project.

At the time, Moscow planned to allocate over $ 1 billion for the construction of hydropower facilities in Kyrgyzstan.