Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Sept. 24
By Demir Azizov- Trend:
The Board of Directors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has recently approved a loan worth $ 150 million to implement the high-voltage power grid modernization project in the north-western region of Uzbekistan, the bank said Sept. 24.
The project worth $ 255 million includes the construction of a 364 kilometer-new power transmission line. It will connect the Takhiatash thermal power plant, the Khorezm substation and Elikkala substation, as well as the construction of three substations in Karakalpakstan and Khorezm.
Moreover, the existing Khorezm substation will be rehabilitated and expanded and a new 500/220 kV substation will be built in Elikkale.
The government of Uzbekistan and Uzbekenergo JSC will allocate $ 105 million for the project implementation.
The project covers four years and it is expected to be completed in late 2019.
"The allocation of these funds was a continuation of the work on strengthening the power grid of the most northern region of Uzbekistan," a statement said.
It was previously reported that ADB approved the allocation of $ 300 million for the modernization of the Takhiatash thermal power plant in July 2014. The project worth $ 700 million includes the construction of two combined cycle gas turbines with a capacity of 280 MW each by decommissioning obsolete blocks of the thermal power plant. The project is planned to be completed in 2020.
Besides an ADB loan, the project will be financed from the Reconstruction and Development Fund of Uzbekistan in the amount of $ 270 million, budgetary funds worth $ 130 million and Uzbekenergo's equity.
At present, there are 45 power plants in Uzbekistan with a total capacity of about 13,800 megawatts.
Up to 90 percent of all electricity is generated by 10 thermal power stations of Uzbekenergo JSC with a total installed capacity of 10.6 million kilowatts.
Uzbekenergo JSC increased electricity generation by 2.3 percent up to 55 billion kilowatt hours in Uzbekistan in 2014 compared to 2013.
The potential capacity for the electricity generation is 56-57 billion kilowatt hours.
Uzbekistan became an 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.