Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The construction of a new thermal power plant (TPP) with a capacity of 1500 MW has begun in the city of Shirin, Syrdarya region, Dunyo reported.

According to the Press Service of the Ministry of Energy, during the operation of the TPP, the annual savings of natural gas will be about 2 billion cubic meters, and the production of electricity will reach 10 billion kilowatt-hours.

Currently, the preparation of the site for the construction of the facility has already begun at the construction site.

Within the framework of the project, a general contractor has been identified - the Chinese company China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC), which will build the facility on a turnkey basis.

The project envisages the use of the most modern combined-cycle plants with an efficiency of more than 60 percent, manufactured by the Japanese company MHPS.

The corresponding resolution of the President of Uzbekistan on construction was adopted on August 10. This document approved an investment agreement on the creation of a new thermal power plant in Syrdarya region between the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan, the investor represented by the International Company for water and power projects (Saudi Arabia) and the project company Acwa Power Sirdarya ". 

Also, the resolution approved an agreement between the "National Electric Grids of Uzbekistan" and "Acwa Power Sirdarya" on the purchase of electricity. At the same time, this project company guarantees the sale of generated electricity only to the National Electric Grids of Uzbekistan.