Uzbek schools to be equipped with alternative sources of energy

The Government of Uzbekistan is planning to attract loan from Saudi Fund for Development and The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) to finance the project with the cost of US$30 million.

The project was included to the investment project for 2014. Within the project it is planned to install alternative sources of energy at 632 schools. The project will be implemented in 2014-2016.

In November 2013, the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov stated that Uzbekistan intends to experimentally outfit with solar collectors 1,300 general schools and professional colleges located predominantly in remote areas and nooks. Photoelectric panels will be installed at more than 600 medical units in rural areas, he added.

In December 2012, the Government of Uzbekistan approved list of 15 investment projects with total cost of US$582.5 million, which will be implemented with attraction of resources of the members of the Asian Coordination Group (ACG) for US$480.9 million.

The ACG unites Islamic Development Bank, Saudi Fund for Development, Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development Fund, the OPEC Fund for International Development, and Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.

So far, the Arab financial institutions allocated about US$500 million in Uzbekistan to finance projects in social, energy, infrastructure and private entrepreneurship sectors.