Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Photo: Press service of the President of Uzbekistan
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has ordered an accelerated transition of 18 industrial sectors to autonomous energy systems powered by renewable sources. The directive was announced by the presidential press service following a June 23 meeting, during which officials presented measures to supply major industrial enterprises with “green” energy.
In the coming years, Uzbekistan plans to implement large-scale renewable energy projects. By the end of 2025, the country is set to commission 12 solar power plants, 4 wind farms, and 12 energy storage systems. Total investment in these facilities exceeds $5 billion, with a combined capacity of about 9 billion kWh annually. In addition, construction is expected to begin on 11 more projects totaling $7.2 billion.
Besides expanding electricity generation, the president emphasized the importance of using energy efficiently. He called for reducing losses and installing energy-saving equipment, particularly at large industrial sites. Special attention is being given to the modernization of 18 energy-intensive sectors, which account for one-third of the country's total energy consumption.
For example, water management pumps currently consume 6.5 billion kWh of electricity per year. To increase efficiency, 12 large pump stations will be upgraded and paired with nearby solar power plants with a capacity of 75–100 MW and energy storage systems of 50 MW. This will reduce the pumps' annual electricity consumption by 2 billion kWh — from 6.5 to 4.5 billion.
The oil and gas sector will also integrate photovoltaic power plants and storage units, enabling the generation of up to 600 million kWh of electricity per year.
The meeting included discussions on a phased transition of 18 high-consumption sectors to autonomous power systems, as well as projects to introduce solar energy into social institutions such as schools, hospitals, and kindergartens.
According to forecasts, Uzbekistan’s population will exceed 41 million by 2030, and the national economy is projected to reach $200 billion. This will require a significant increase in energy capacity. To meet this demand, the country is actively expanding renewable energy sources. Nearly $6 billion in foreign direct investment has already been attracted to Uzbekistan’s “green” energy sector. The country’s annual electricity production has increased from 59 billion to 82 billion kWh.
