TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 31. More action is needed to promote Uzbekistan’s energy security while mitigating rising emissions, the latest Uzbekistan Country Climate and Development Report by the World Bank says, Trend reports.
“Current policies result in much higher dependency on imported energy resources and a doubling of emissions by 2060 in the Net Zero by 2060 reference scenario, indicating that more action is needed to promote the country's energy security while mitigating rising emissions,” the Bank said.
WB noted that with the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and energy demand expected to rise quickly, Uzbekistan could meet its 2030 green energy goals as emissions rise more slowly and emission intensity declines.
Nevertheless, the Bank warns that Uzbekistan could become highly dependent on imported energy resources due to limited natural gas availability, with energy imports accounting for 66 percent of supply by 2060, renewables only accounting for 21 percent, and domestic fossil fuel extraction and production standing at 13 percent.
“This will also produce a large increase in total emissions in the reference scenario, putting decarbonization out of reach. In this scenario, growth in energy demand is met largely through fossil fuels, while improved emission efficiency is due to the cost-driven uptake of renewable energy, a shift from natural gas in the power sector and heating, improvements in energy efficiency, and a small cost-driven uptake of electric vehicles,” WB analysts stressed.