Uzbekistan signs $4.7 billion energy deals for nuclear and renewable expansion

Uzbekistan has signed six energy agreements totaling $4.7 billion to expand its power capacity and infrastructure. The deals, signed in Tashkent, involve international companies from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, France, and Qatar. The investment covers 3,000 megawatts (MW) of new generation capacity and 400 MW of energy storage.

Key participating companies include ACWA Power, Saudi Tabreed, AMEA Power, Toyota Tsusho, Sojitz, EDF, and Nebras Power. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized a shift toward an integrated energy system rather than isolated plants, noting that previous methods led to uneven generation distribution and higher transmission costs. To address this, future projects will utilize competitive auctions with pre-defined grid connections and electricity purchase conditions.

The government has set ambitious targets for 2030, aiming to add 22 GW of installed capacity, construct 5,000 kilometers of power lines, and increase storage capacity to 4.5 GW. Additionally, the country plans to launch separate tenders for 2,200 MW of solar and wind projects. A National Energy Master Plan looking toward 2050 is expected to be completed by July 2027.