Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan hosted negotiations with UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan Matilda Dimovska on 29 October 2021.

As the First Deputy Minister of Energy of the Republic of Uzbekistan Azim Akhmedkhadjayev noted during the meeting, the UN Development Program has significant potential for cooperation in providing the best international experience in the field of energy efficiency and low-carbon development.

In this regard, the parties discussed the possibilities of technical cooperation on the energy audit of residential buildings, related analytical and legislative work. Environmental renovation of the housing stock, taking into account advanced foreign experience, can significantly increase its energy efficiency, which is one of the urgent tasks of modern energy development.

The parties also expressed interest in cooperation in assessing regulatory aspects and technical capabilities for piloting and subsequent implementation of on-grid solar systems in rural areas of Uzbekistan.

An urgent issue of the country’s energy security is the development and adoption of a regulatory framework for the supply of electricity to the general network, produced at solar and wind power plants, built by private investors, that is, independent energy producers. It is important to involve the best international experience in the development of such a regulatory framework, in particular, to implement this in cooperation with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

The parties also discussed the prospects for the use of electric buses for public transport, opportunities in this regard for cooperation in modeling to assess the socio-economic and environmental impacts and benefits of green development of the electric power industry.

During the negotiations, the parties presented their vision of cooperation in preparation for the high-level international forum on "green" energy in the Aral Sea region in the city of Nukus in 2022. The initiative to hold this forum in cooperation with the UN was announced by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly.