Uzbekistan signs six energy deals worth $4.7 billion and plans two more nuclear power plants

On 16 October President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held an open dialogue with foreign investors in Tashkent, where six energy agreements worth a combined $4.7 billion were signed. They cover 3,000 MW of new generating capacity and 400 MW of energy storage. Companies involved include ACWA Power and Saudi Tabreed of Saudi Arabia, AMEA Power of the UAE, Toyota Tsusho and Sojitz of Japan, EDF of France and Nebras Power of Qatar.

The President set out the country's targets for 2030: 22 GW of new capacity, up to 4.5 GW of storage, 5,000 km of power lines and 16 substations. Annual electricity output is to exceed 129 billion kWh and the share of renewables, including hydropower, is to rise from 31% today to 54%. Over the past decade Uzbekistan's energy sector has attracted $35 billion of investment.

Construction of the first nuclear power plant in Jizzakh began in June; with two large and two small reactors it will have a total capacity of 2,110 MW. Mirziyoyev announced that a second and a third plant will also be built, and talks with potential partners for the second were held on 17 October. From now on projects will be awarded through transparent tenders, with grid-connection and power-purchase terms published in advance, and the first National Energy Master Plan to 2050 is to be ready by July 2027. Uzbekistan is also working with Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan on the Caspian Green Energy Corridor to export renewable power to Europe; the project is currently at the feasibility stage.