On October 31, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev presided over a meeting to assess the progress of projects in the field of hydropower and to review preparations for the forthcoming autumn-winter season. The meeting focused on the development of the hydropower sector, the expansion of energy production capacity, and efforts to enhance the stability of the national energy system.
Hydroelectric power stations were highlighted as crucial for providing a steady daily supply of energy while being a cost-effective source of electricity. Uzbekistan has significant untapped hydropower potential, with preliminary estimates suggesting a capacity of 8,000 megawatts, of which only 2,200 megawatts are currently utilized. To harness this potential fully, the government aims to increase the total capacity to 6,000 megawatts by 2030 by attracting foreign investments and private sector involvement.
To facilitate this development, legal and economic conditions have been created, including a 20-year lease of land for entrepreneurs interested in constructing small and micro-hydroelectric power stations. The introduction of a state-guaranteed purchase system for the electricity produced by these stations has been established.
At the meeting, the current status of projects in the hydropower sector was reviewed. It was noted that 20 small and micro-hydroelectric power plants are scheduled to be constructed this year, with an additional 38 planned for 2024. However, some projects are facing delays. Regional governors provided updates on the launch of 20 stations in the coming months.
In addition, seven large hydropower plants with a combined capacity of 197 megawatts are set to be operational by the joint-stock company "Uzbekhydroenergo." This will contribute to the production of 7 bn kilowatt-hours of electricity.
Following the president's directives, experts have identified an additional reserve of 1,000 megawatts in hydropower. For instance, the construction of cascades on the Norin River could yield 230 megawatts of power, providing electricity to 450,000 people in Namangan.
Furthermore, next year, the capacity of solar and wind power plants will increase to 3,500 megawatts. The shift towards renewable energy sources, which primarily generate electricity during the day, necessitates the development of a five-year program for the construction of the planned 6,000-megawatt stations without waiting until 2030. The involvement of foreign energy companies in private partnership projects was also emphasized.
Preparations for the upcoming autumn-winter season were also discussed at the meeting. Over the last five years, more than UZS 4 trillion (326mn) has been allocated for the modernization of the energy network and transformers. This year, a significant program to upgrade Tashkent city's energy infrastructure has commenced.
Additionally, a reserve of at least UZS 10bn ($817,160) is being accumulated in each region to ensure an uninterrupted energy supply during the colder months. Funds will be used to update transformers, wires, and other spare parts.
In various regions, an estimated 33,000 obsolete transformers and 122,000 kilometers of outdated electrical networks pose a pressing challenge. This issue is most pronounced in the Tashkent, Namangan, and Syrdarya regions. Over the first nine months of this year, a significant 12% of the electricity generated was lost.
The meeting emphasized the need to modernize outdated transformers and networks, with the aim of reducing electricity losses by 1-2% annually. Efforts will be made to connect over 100,000 wholesale consumers and 648,000 new households to the automated electricity accounting and control system.
Concerns were raised about delays in the repair of boiler houses and heating networks in some regions, as well as the readiness of social sector institutions for the autumn-winter season. A significant portion of medical institutions (62%), kindergartens (54%), and schools (40%) have yet to complete their plans to replace high-energy-consumption boilers.
Officials were instructed to mobilize all available resources to accelerate repair and modernization efforts in these areas.
The meeting also addressed the issue of coal supply for the population and social sector institutions during the autumn-winter season. The importance of creating additional coal reserves and involving the private sector in the distribution was underscored, with strict instruction to prevent illegal coal sales and profiteering at the expense of the population.
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