ADB to support hydro energy development in Uzbekistan
Baku, Azerbaijan, July 3
By Elena Kosolapova – Trend:
Asian Development Bank (ADB) will support Uzbekistan in implementation of new state program on hydro energy development adopted by the country in early June, Takeo Konishi, ADB Country Director in Uzbekistan, told Trend.
“ADB supports Uzbekistan's initiative of hydropower generation development. According to our Country Operation Business Plan for Uzbekistan in 2017-2019, it is envisaged to implement the Sustainable Hydropower Project which is also included in the State Program of hydro energy development for 2017-2021,” Konishi told Trend July 3.
He noted that ADB has provided a technical assistance for this project preparation.
According to ADB, the bank plans provide a loan in the amount of $215 million plus $2.5 million of technical assistance to Sustainable Hydropower Project in Uzbekistan. The project will modernize three existing hydropower plants, construct three new run-of-river small-sized hydropower plants, and provide capacity development for mini/micro hydropower plants development in Uzbekistan. The six sub-projects are selected based on age of plants, technical and economic viability, and prioritized in the national investment program.
In early June Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved a new state program on development of hydro energy. The program envisages construction of 18 new and modernization of 14 existing hydropower plants by 2021. These projects will have a total cost of $2.65 billion and allow increasing the share of hydro energy in the country's energy balance to 15.8 percent compared to current 12.7 percent.
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