Stable Power Key to Foreign Data Center Investments

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Ensuring a stable power supply is a key condition for attracting foreign investors to data center projects in Uzbekistan, an official from the Presidential Administration announced at the Silk Road Finance & Technology Forum in Tashkent on 24 August 2026.

Bobur Khodjaev, head of the Department for Financial Technologies, Digitalization, and Artificial Intelligence, stated that power stability is the primary issue raised during discussions with prospective international investors.

Over the past six years, Uzbekistan has signed numerous power purchase agreements (PPAs) to expand renewable generation, with green energy now accounting for more than 30% of total national electricity production. Khodjaev noted that this renewable capacity serves as a major incentive for international tech firms seeking to construct data centers powered by clean energy.

Karakalpakstan was specifically selected for data center development due to its substantial green energy resources. Several international investors are already constructing wind and solar power plants in the region. The Presidential Administration is currently working alongside the Ministry of Energy to secure uninterrupted power delivery for future data infrastructure.

To further encourage investment in Karakalpakstan's digital infrastructure, authorities introduced tax incentives and a specialized electricity tariff last year. Khodjaev confirmed that these measures have helped secure a reliable pool of investors ready to allocate capital to the region.

Additionally, Uzbekistan is establishing the Enterprise Uzbekistan special zone, offering international technology companies tax preferences and a common-law legal framework.

Uzbekistan is also building domestic computing power, having recently commissioned its first major supercomputer within the Digital Government Data Center, with plans to triple its capacity over the next 12 months. Concurrently, the country is developing sovereign artificial intelligence models for application in education, healthcare, public services, and finance. Khodjaev added that Uzbekistan aims to access both advanced U.S. AI chips and models as well as lower-cost Chinese open-weight models to support its digital expansion.