On February 6, President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev was briefed on a presentation outlining strategies to enhance the production of electric vehicles, presidential press service reported.
The impetus for Uzbekistan's foray into electric mobility gained momentum following President Mirziyoyev's directives during a meeting in December and his subsequent visit to China in January. During the state visit, the President toured BYD's headquarters and initiated a partnership to establish an assembly project for hybrid and electric cars in the Jizzakh region. Talks with BYD's leadership also centered on scaling production capacity to 500,000 units annually in the near future.
In line with these developments, officials have been tasked with expediting projects aimed at bolstering the country's electric vehicle sector. Collaboration with BYD and other industry partners has been prioritized, with an emphasis on sourcing components essential for electric car production.
Uzbekistan has outlined plans to establish an integrated system linking the Polytechnic Institute of Turin, engineering centers, scientific institutes, and laboratories. Anticipating a surge in workforce requirements, preparations are underway to train up to 10,000 qualified personnel over the next three years to meet the industry's burgeoning needs.
Moreover, acknowledging the critical infrastructure needed to support electric mobility, Uzbekistan is set to develop a comprehensive program for the establishment of electric car charging stations. This strategic initiative aligns with the country's vision to facilitate widespread adoption of electric vehicles by addressing charging infrastructure gaps.
The surge in electric vehicle (EV) imports coincided with the deployment of charging infrastructure. Prior to 2020, the lack of adequate infrastructure posed a challenge for EV adoption, with Tashkent seeing its first charging station installed by the Uzbekistani company Makro only in October 2020. By early 2022, the country had seen the establishment of 36 charging stations, predominantly spearheaded by private sector entities such as Makro, TokBor, and Megawatt Motors. In a significant move, President Mirziyoyev issued a far-reaching decree in December 2022, aiming to boost the number of electric charging stations to 2,500 by the conclusion of 2024.
Earlier Daryo reported that the Uzbekistan Ministry of Energy has unveiled intentions to discontinue the production of Ai-80 gasoline by the year 2025. The Fergana oil refinery, which has augmented its Ai-80 gasoline output by over 50% during the winter months, reaching an average of 800 tons per day, will halt Ai-80 production by 2025.
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