News
Uzbekistan will receive $ 150 million from the World Bank for the development of small hydropower
The World Bank approved (https://www.vsemirnyjbank.org/ru/news/press-release/2025/06/25/uzbekista N-to-to-Eenergy-Production-Through-Hydropower-With-Bank-Support) The provision of a preferential loan in the amount of $ 150 million to implement a large -scale project aimed at developing a small hydropower and increasing the reliability of power supply throughout the country. The initiative will be implemented with the participation of the private sector, including local developers of small hydroelectric power plants (MGES) and banks.
According to forecasts, by 2030, the demand for electricity in Uzbekistan will double and exceed 120 billion kilowatt hours a year. Despite the growth of production, the country is still faced with a shortage: about 10% of the needs remain unsatisfied, which causes interruptions with deliveries, especially in rural areas and remote regions. The main reason is the weak infrastructure of the distribution and transmission of electricity.
The solution may be small hydroelectric power stations with a capacity of 100 kW to 5 MW, which will be placed on existing irrigation channels. Such MGES are an effective, economical and environmentally friendly solution: they require minimal maintenance, are quickly built and provide stable electricity supply, especially in regions not covered by a centralized network.
"The Government of Uzbekistan plans to build about 3,000 MGES by 2026 with a total capacity of up to 160 MW, which will provide electricity about 280 thousand people. A new project financed by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan in 2025-2030 will contribute to this goal," said Tatyana Proskuryakova, regional director of the universal Bank for Central Asia.
Financing provided through banks will give local developers access to the necessary funds for the construction of the MGES. It is also expected that the project will help to mobilize about $ 38 million private investment in the country`s hydropower infrastructure.
By 2030, it is planned to finance the construction of the MGES with a total installed capacity of up to 150 MW, capable of producing more than 520 gigavat hours of environmentally friendly electricity. It will also help reduce Co₂ emissions by 430,000 tons per year.
To date, about 270 sections suitable for the placement of MGES on existing irrigation channels throughout the country are preliminarily determined. Most of them (93%) are designed for power from 100 to 1000 kW.
The energy generated as part of the project will be purchased by “regional electric networks”, which will strengthen the national energy system, increase the reliability of power supply in remote areas and take an important step towards energy stability and green economy.
Source
