WB allocates loan worth $25 mln to Uzbekistan (UPDATE)
Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Aug.19 / Trend, D.Azizov /
Details added (the first version was posted at 10:28 )
The World Bank has allocated a loan worth $25 million to Uzbekistan to implement a project for improving energy efficiency in industrial enterprises, the World Bank Office in Tashkent told Trend on Friday.
A loan agreement was signed by the WB head of office, Takuya Kamata, and Uzbekistan's First Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Rustam Azimov.
The WB Board of Directors approved the loan in June 2010.
Borrowed funds are allocated from the resources of the International Development Association (IDA, World Bank's structural unit) in the form of an interest-free loan for a period of 35 years, including a 10-year grace period, with commission commitment payments.
The total project cost calculated for five-years-time is $34.6 million. The Uzbek side, represented by the country's commercial banks and industrial enterprises involved in the project, will allocate $9.6 million to implement the project.
Within the project, three Uzbek banks - "Asaka" bank, Hamkorbank, and UzPromStroy Bank will be allocated $8 million each for relending industrial enterprises, implementing projects on energy conservation and production of energy efficiency worth at least 20 percent annually. The maximum size of sub-loans is set at $3 million without limitation of the state share in the authorized capital of the enterprises-sub-borrower.
The loan funds will be directed at purchasing technology and equipment, to optimize production systems and reduce power consumption.
In addition, the government will receive assistance in developing the concept of energy efficiency in industry sectors. It will also provide further training for specialists in industrial enterprises and industries, while introducing advanced energy saving technologies.
It is expected that increasing energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption in the production industry will increase Uzbekistan's competition in industry in general, release limited gas resources for export, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Uzbekistan joined the World Bank in 1992.
During the latest period, the bank has provided the republic with loans totaling about $1.17 billion to implement projects in the spheres of privatization, financial sector development, agricultural modernization, the power industry, and funded projects to improve the social infrastructure, health and education.