Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In order to successfully implement the project, a working meeting between representatives of the Ministry of Energy and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) took place at the PPP Development Agency, during which the following steps were discussed to prepare the project with a preliminary cost of more than US$1 billion.

The modernization of infrastructure, especially in the energy sector, is one of the key priorities of the country's socio-economic development. The use of highly efficient and renewable energy sources is obvious and necessary in order to ensure energy, environmental, economic security, as well as ensuring sustainable development of the energy sector of the republic. Along with this, it is necessary to develop regulatory and basic capacities to balance peak loads, which is carried out through the construction of new thermal power plants.

Earlier in October 2019, the PPP Development Agency, the Ministry of Energy signed an agreement with IFC, which is a member of the World Bank Group, to provide advisory services on transaction structuring and bidding on a public-private partnership (PPP) project for construction (greenfield) heat -electric power station (TPP) with a capacity of 1300 megawatts in Syrdarya region.

Syrdarya TPP is a thermal power station in the city of Shirin, Syrdarya region of Uzbekistan. The largest power plant in Central Asia has an installed capacity of 3,000 MW (ten power units of 300 MW each).

In order to implement this project, on 28-29 October, a meeting was held at the PPP Agency with international consultants of the IFC, where the main terms (heads of terms) of the PPP agreement (Power purchasing agreement) were discussed, including methods of increasing the investment attractiveness of the project, organization of technical, financial and legal expertise of the project.

According to preliminary agreement, IFC will prepare a feasibility study, financial and legal expertise of the project within 14 months, prepare tender documentation, a PPP agreement, organize and conduct a tender, and announce the winner. Typical PPP projects, including This project consists of the following steps:

- technical, legal and financial analysis (3-6 months);

- preparation of the main conditions of the agreement;

- development and confirmation of the structure of the transaction (3 months);

- study of the interest of international investors;

- prequalification (start of tender procedures (3 months);

- receipt of technical and commercial offers (3 months);

- evaluation of proposals;

- determination of the winner of the tender, commercial and financial closure (3-6 months);

- construction and launch (from 12 months +).

The above process used by IFC assists in the preparation of a standardized package of tender documents, allows creating conditions for attracting large international investors and conducting transparent and competitive selection.

According to experts, among technologies for generating thermal power plants, combined cycle plants are the most advantageous, given:

- combined cycle plants can achieve an electrical efficiency (characteristic of the efficiency of the system (device, machine) in relation to the conversion or transmission of energy) of more than 60%. For comparison, for steam-powered plants operating separately, the efficiency is usually in the range of 33-45%, for gas-turbine plants in the range of 28-42%;

- low cost per unit of installed capacity;

- combined cycle plants consume significantly less water per unit of generated electricity compared to steam power plants;

- short construction time (9-12 months);

- there is no need for a constant supply of fuel;

- more environmentally friendly in comparison with steam turbine plants.