Uzbekistan Launches Clean Hydrogen Initiative for Energy Transition

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 2 April 2026, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), in collaboration with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy, launched a new project aimed at advancing hydrogen energy in the country.

The initiative, Clean Hydrogen for Uzbekistan, establishes an ecosystem and regulatory framework for the adoption of clean hydrogen technologies. The project is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Energy and financed by the Korea Green New Deal Trust Fund (KGNDTF) under South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Uzbekistan is taking active steps to transform its energy sector. The country is implementing the 2019–2030 Green Economy Transition Strategy and national initiatives to expand renewable energy usage and diversify the energy mix.

According to the Nationally Determined Contributions document (NDC 3.0), adopted in October 2025, renewables are expected to account for 54% of electricity generation by 2030. Pilot projects are already underway to assess hydrogen energy potential and implement relevant policy measures.

Clean hydrogen produces minimal or zero greenhouse gas emissions over its lifecycle. It enables energy storage and transport while reducing carbon footprints, making it a strategic resource for industrial decarbonization and enhancing energy system flexibility.

The Clean Hydrogen for Uzbekistan project will focus on three main areas: strengthening the legal and regulatory framework through a national hydrogen roadmap, upskilling public sector specialists via workshops and study tours, and identifying investment opportunities to develop a domestic clean hydrogen market.

During the launch event, participants discussed the project’s potential in the context of national priorities. A roundtable provided an open forum on energy transformation and the creation of export capacities. Attendees included representatives from the ministries of energy, economy and finance, transport, the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, the State Environmental Expertise Center, as well as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and other international organizations.

The Clean Hydrogen for Uzbekistan initiative is viewed as a key step toward a low-carbon future, supporting decarbonization of heavy industry and opening new industrial opportunities for the country.