The Ministry of Energy in Uzbekistan has set forth an ambitious plan to achieve stable and uninterrupted operation of the country's energy system by 2026. The ministry is intensifying efforts to address the challenges faced by the energy sector, particularly following the energy crisis in early 2023, with a focus on ensuring a reliable power supply for the upcoming summer season, Gazeta.uz reported.
"Patching Holes" in the Energy System
The recent years, especially post the energy crisis, have seen dedicated efforts to address vulnerabilities in the energy system. The focus has been on fortifying the system against challenges, ensuring it can handle increased electricity consumption during the summer season.
Green Energy Revolution
Taking inspiration from China's successful efforts in overcoming power shortages, Uzbekistan is actively investing in green energy projects. Six "green" power plants with a collective capacity of 2.4 GW were launched at the end of December, with plans to increase the capacity of such plants to 27 GW by 2030. This ambitious move is expected to save 25 bn cubic meters of natural gas annually and reduce harmful emissions by 34 mn tons.
Infrastructure Upgrades
The second stage of the plan involves the comprehensive upgrade of power lines and substations across Uzbekistan.
Partnership with the State Grid Corporation of China will focus on building and modernizing high-voltage electrical networks with voltages of 220 and 500 kV.
Digitalization and SCADA System Implementation
Aiming for a technologically advanced energy system, Uzbekistan plans to complete the digitalization of the entire energy infrastructure. A World Bank project, with an investment of $115 mn, will facilitate the implementation of a SCADA system, enhancing the monitoring and control capabilities of the energy grid.
As part of its strategy, Uzbekistan is exploring avenues to attract private operators for the management of distribution networks in various regions. This approach is expected to create a more efficient and resilient energy distribution system, potentially reducing losses in the power grid.
Importance of Meeting 2024 Targets
Energy Minister Joʻrabek Mirzamahmudov emphasized the significance of achieving the 2024 target of covering 100% of electricity demand through domestic production. Failure to meet this goal is seen as a serious challenge by the leadership, underscoring the commitment to transforming and fortifying the nation's energy landscape.
In 2023, the nation inaugurated seven solar and wind power facilities, totaling 2,600MW, with six becoming operational in the past week. The goal for 2024 includes expanding photovoltaic plant capacity to 2.6GW, wind farms to 900MW, and introducing 400MW energy storage systems. Collaborating with firms from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, China, France, and Switzerland, Uzbekistan is currently constructing 12 additional power plants, contributing to a total of 28 ongoing green energy projects.
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