Tashkent, Uzbekistan, April 23
By Demir Azizov- Trend:
Uzbekenergo SJSC will start implementation of the project on the automated control systems and electric power metering in the north-western regions of Uzbekistan until the end of 2014, a representative of the energy company told Trend on Tuesday.
The project worth $ 150 million provides the introduction of automated control systems and electric power metering and its installation until 2017 of about 800,000 counters among residential consumers in the Navoi, Khorezm regions and Karakalpakstan autonomous republic .
The project will be financed at the expense of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in the amount of $ 120 million and Uzbekenergo`s own funds.
"The approval of the loan can be obtained in the second half of this year, and the realization of the project is planned to begin in early 2015 ," Uzbekenergo representative told Trend.
At present time, Uzbekistan began to modernize the metering system of electricity in the domestic sector in the amount of $ 802 million. It is scheduled within the framework of the program to implement a data management system of accounting, billing system, appropriate communication systems, as well as to install 5.68 million electronic electricity devices for consumers in the 0.4 kV network throughout the country by 2018.
The program is financed at the expense of the Uzbekenergo`s own funds and Uzbek government at $ 218 million, as well as through loans from international financial institutions totaling $584 million.
In particular, the Asian Development Bank has allocated $ 150 million for the modernization of electricity metering in Bukhara, Jizzakh and Samarkand regions in 2012. The project, worth $ 200 million includes the purchase and installation of one million electricity counters.
The World Bank provided a loan of $ 180 million for a similar project in Tashkent, Tashkent and Syrdarya regions in the same year. Some 1.2 million modern electricity metering devices and new billing solutions will be introduced within the framework of the project worth at $246.4 million.
Uzbekenergo estimates the total reduction of electricity by 20 percent with annual production of about 51 billion kWh, including distribution networks - up to 15 percent.
The project will allow for energy savings in the residential sector in the amount of up to 2.75 billion kWh annually and reduce greenhouse gas emissions up to 1,935 million tons annually for the next decade, according to specialists.
Uzbekenergo planned to implement a program for the modernization of electricity metering system with total cost of $ 365 million in 2009-2012. Later the date of program and its costs have been adjusted.
At present, there are 45 electric power plants in Uzbekistan with total capacity of about 13,000 MW. Potential possibility of electricity production is 56-57 billion kWh.
Translated by S.I.
Edited by C.N.