Tashkent, January 29, 2025 – The Europe Today: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a meeting on January 28 to discuss measures for developing Uzbekistan’s electricity sector for the period 2025-2035. The discussions focused on enhancing energy production, increasing the share of renewable energy, and ensuring a stable power supply to meet the country’s growing demand.
Over the past eight years, Uzbekistan has increased its electricity production by 38 percent, reaching 81.5 billion kilowatt-hours. Expanded opportunities for the private sector have resulted in the creation of new generation capacities totaling 11.2 gigawatts, raising the private sector’s share in electricity generation to 24 percent. Concurrently, the share of green energy has risen to 16 percent.
The country’s rapid economic growth and rising household incomes have significantly impacted electricity consumption. Since 2016, electricity consumption has grown by 21 billion kilowatt-hours due to the increased adoption of household appliances. By 2030, Uzbekistan’s population is projected to reach 41 million, and the economy is expected to expand by 1.5 times. To sustain this growth, the country aims to generate $45 billion in added value in the industrial sector, triple the volume of services, and establish large-scale data centers, all of which necessitate a stable energy supply.
According to projections, Uzbekistan will require 117 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity by 2030, increasing to 135 billion kilowatt-hours by 2035—1.7 times the current consumption. To meet these demands, the Ministry of Energy has developed a long-term strategy focused on infrastructure development and efficiency improvements.
Key initiatives include the construction of new power plants and energy storage facilities, the development of 7,000 kilometers of main power grids, and the implementation of digital management systems to optimize energy distribution. A crucial aspect of this plan is ensuring that regions facing energy deficits can receive supplementary power from other areas. The government plans to invest $4 billion in the National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan over the next five years to facilitate these projects.
Reducing electricity production costs is another major priority, with a particular emphasis on alternative energy sources. While thermal power plants generate electricity at a cost of 5-6 cents per kilowatt-hour, solar and wind farms offer a more economical alternative at an average cost of 3 cents per kilowatt-hour. Recognizing Uzbekistan’s strong potential for renewable energy, the government aims to increase the share of green energy in total electricity generation to over 50 percent by 2030. Plans include commissioning 3,000 micro-hydropower plants with a combined capacity of 164 megawatts and small solar and wind power stations totaling 750 megawatts.
President Mirziyoyev has stressed the urgency of transitioning to a resource-efficient economic model. Enhancing energy efficiency in industry could generate an additional 27 percent of GDP. At present, energy consumption in some local chemical and metallurgical enterprises is twice as high as the global average, while the cement production sector consumes 1.2 times more energy than international benchmarks. Consequently, the government has set a target to reduce energy consumption by 10-15 percent across various sectors and lower electricity losses from the current 14 percent to 8-9 percent by 2030.
In collaboration with foreign investors, Uzbekistan has launched projects valued at $26 billion, totaling 24 gigawatts in energy capacity. These initiatives require substantial equipment and construction materials, creating opportunities for local enterprises. The government has also emphasized the importance of localization and industrial cooperation to support these projects.
To ensure a stable and uninterrupted electricity supply, authorities have been tasked with developing a comprehensive energy sector roadmap until 2035, incorporating key strategies discussed during the meeting. Enhancing workforce training and capacity-building in the energy sector has also been identified as a priority to support the country’s long-term energy ambitions.
