President approves “roadmap” to increase generating capacity, modernize electrical networks

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved a “road map” to increase generating capacity, modernize electric networks, improve metering and control of electric energy consumption in 2018-2020.

As part of the “roadmap” in Uzbekistan, 7 investment projects will be implemented to modernize existing and commission new generating capacities with a total capacity of 1,984 MW and a project cost of US$2.6 billion.

In addition, existing and constructed new electrical networks with a total length of 7,100 km will be reconstructed. About 2,500 transformer points will be installed and upgraded at the expense of attracted loans and own funds of Uzbekenergo.

The document noted that 7 million consumers will be connected to an automated control and metering system for electricity (ACMSE), and by the end of 2021 the ACMSE will cover all 100% of the total number of subscribers.

As part of the “roadmap”, Uzbekistan will acquire long-term loans totaling US$1.8 billion, which have been agreed with the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and other international financial institutions.

The head of Uzbekistan instructed the Ministry of Finance, together with the State Committee on Investments, to ensure that part of the borrowed funds of international financial institutions involved in the implementation of the State Program “Obod Qishloq” for construction and modernization of low-voltage networks in the amount of at least US$100 million in 2019-2020.

The President approved implementation of projects for further implementation of ACMSE in other regions of Uzbekistan at the expense of borrowed funds from the Asian Development Bank in the amount of US$300 million, which were issued for implementation of the project “Implementation of an automated system for monitoring and metering electricity consumption in Andijan, Namangan, Fergana, Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya regions (Phase 4)”.

The Bureau of Compulsory Enforcement was tasked to ensure that in 2019-2021, the annual allocation of Uzbekenergo from the Development Fund of the Compulsory Enforcement Bureau in the amount of 400 billion soums, not subject to taxation for parallel financing of the purchase of electricity meters and related equipment based on selection of the best offers of domestic producers.

A long-term investment program for the expansion, modernization and diversification of generating capacities for the period up to 2030 will also be developed, bringing the generating capacity to 20,000 MW.