Uzbek president launches construction of HPPs, solar farms worth $1.1 bln in country's east

TASHKENT. March 26 (Interfax) - Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev launched the construction of a cascade of hydropower plants (HPPs) and two solar farms worth $1.1 billion in the Namangan region, in the Fergana Valley in eastern Uzbekistan, the country's official media said on Tuesday.

"The ceremony to launch the construction of a cascade of six hydropower plants and two solar farms took place during President Mirziyoyev's visit to the Namangan region," media outlets said.

According to media reports, six HPPs with a total capacity of 228 MW will be built on the Naryn river as part of a $434-million project. In addition, the German company Hyper Partners GmbH will build a 500 MW solar farm worth $350 million. Another solar farm with the same capacity will be built in cooperation with a company from the United Arab Emirates, Tepelen Group Holding Limited.

These projects are expected to bring the Namangan region's power generating capacity to 2,141 MW. The region will produce 7.8 billion kWh of electricity a year, fully covering its own electricity needs of 5.5 billion kWh. The remaining 30% will be supplied to the neighboring Andizhan and Fergana regions.

Mirziyoyev said at the ceremony that Uzbekistan attaches great importance to boosting renewable energy sources, media outlets said. Nine solar farms and wind farms with a total capacity of 1.6 GW have been connected to the grid in Bukhara, Dzhizak, Kashkadarya, Navoiy, Samarkand and Surkhandarya over the past few years. Six HPPs with a total capacity of 183 MW began operating in Andizhan, Samarkand, Surkhandarya and the Tashkent region.

The generating capacity of all Uzbek power plants is around 14.3 GW. Uzbekistan plans to put 14 power plants into operation this year, including 11 solar farms with 2 GW capacity each and three 600 MW wind farms. The three-year program will see Uzbekistan build 28 solar farms and wind farms with a capacity of 8 GW.