Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Sept. 18
By Demir Azizov- Trend:
The board of directors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved allocation of the loan worth $300 million to the Uzbek government for completion of the program of modernization of the electricity accounting system in the regions of the country, said the message of the bank posted on its official website.
The project worth $491 million envisages the purchase and installation of 3.1 million electricity accounting devices in 0.4 kv voltage networks in five regions of the country - Andijan, Ferghana, Kashkadarya, Namangan and Surkhandarya.
The ADB loan will also be allocated on Uzbekenergo's staff training and campaigns to raise public awareness about energy efficiency.
The project implementation period is 2016-2020.
In September 2011, ADB provided a $150 million credit to Uzbekistan for the modernization of electricity accounting system in Bukhara, Jizzakh and Samarkand provinces.
The project, worth $200 million provides for the purchase and installation of one million units of electricity accounting in the 0.4 kW consumer networks in these three provinces of the country.
The credit is allocated from the ordinary resources of the bank for 25 years, including a five-year grace period.
Funding of the project in addition to the ADB credits is provided by the Government of Uzbekistan in the amount of $50 million.
It was earlier reported that the State Joint-Stock Company Uzbekenergo - the national power network operator of Uzbekistan, implements a program on modernization of the accounting system of electricity, worth about $800 million.
In total, it is planned to install 4.5 million electricity accounting devices for consumers in the 0.4 kW networks throughout the country.
According to calculations, the program's realization will allow to reach the energy economy in the residential sector in the amount of 2.75 billion kWh and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1,935 million tons annually.
Uzbekenergo SJSC increased electricity production by 2.3 percent up to 55 billion kilowatt/hours in Uzbekistan in 2014, compared to 2013.
Uzbekistan became ADB member in 1995. Currently, it is the largest recipient of loans from this financial institution in Central Asia: ADB has allocated around $5 billion for the implementation of over 40 investment projects with the total estimated cost of over $14.5 billion.