Baku, Azerbaijan, July 7
By Fikret Dolukhanov – Trend:
Uzbekistan has started modernization of three hydropower plants (HPPs) through loans provided by the Export-Import Bank (Exim Bank) of China, the Uzbek energy company Uzbekgidroenergo stated.
The Shahrikhan HPP (SFC-2), the cascade of Tashkent HPPs (HPP-4) and the cascade of Lower-Bozsu HPPs will be modernized. The total cost of work exceeds $74 million, $63 million of which will be allocated by Exim Bank of China.
“There is a need for large-scale modernization of HPPs in Uzbekistan. Out of the 36 HPPs currently in operation, 25 were built between 1940 and 1980, with many of them having exhausted their work resources long ago. As a result of modernization, we will increase total capacity of the three HPPs at least twofold. We will also increase general power production by over 3 times,” Uzbekgidroenergo stated.
Modernization of the HPPs will be carried out by the Power China company. The corresponding agreement was reached during the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Qingdao. The commissioning of all three facilities is planned in 2020.
It was earlier reported that Uzbekistan plans to commission the Tuyabuguz HPP at the end of 2018.
Uzbekistan is planning to build 42 new and modernize 32 operating HPPs within the framework of the state program. Currently, 10 projects are under implementation, the first stage of which is $364.6 million.
In June-August 2017, the country commenced on construction of a small HPP at the Tuyabuguz reservoir, a cascade of small HPPs on the Big Fergana Canal, the Kamchik small HPP on the Akhangaran River and the Zarchob cascade of small HPPs on the Tupolang River.
According to expert estimates, the hydropower resources of Uzbekistan allow generating up to 27.4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. At the same time, only 6.5 billion kilowatt-hours (23.7 percent) of the entire hydropower potential of the country has been developed.
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