Baku, Azerbaijan, June 25
By Fikret Dolukhanov – Trend:
Construction of a solar power plant in the Samarkand region of Uzbekistan has been suspended, Uzbek website Gazeta.uz reported citing Head of the Department for Strategic Development of Uzbekenergo Eso Sadullayev.
During the international conference “Reforms and Prospects for Reforming the Electricity Sector: Lessons Learned, Conclusions and Disproved Myths”, held in Tashkent on June 25, Sadullayev noted that as a result of careful examination of technical and economic documents related to the project, it was found that the project should be revised.
Sadullayev reminded that an agreement was signed with the Canadian SkyPower Global in spring 2018 for construction of facilities for generation of solar energy with a total capacity of 1,000 megawatts. The company is intending to invest $1.3 billion in construction of facilities in Tashkent, Samarkand, Navoi, Jizzakh, Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya regions.
The Uzbekenergo official underlined that the project, which will be implemented in the next four years, will contribute to diversification of electricity production, improve quality of energy supply and provide the population with affordable energy.
Construction of Central Asia's first solar power plant in the Samarkand region of Uzbekistan was announced in 2014. In 2016, it was reported that the tender for construction was won by the Chinese Zhuhai Singyes Green Building Technology. The project worth $275.8 million was to be financed through loans from the Asian Development Bank and by the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan and Uzbekenergo.
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