Hydropower projects considered in Uzbekistan
On November 30, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev got acquainted with the presentation of projects in the hydropower sector.
The energy industry is actively developing in Uzbekistan. In addition to power plants based on traditional fuels such as oil and gas, facilities are also being built that generate electricity from renewable sources - sun, wind and water.
In particular, in 2017, by the decree of the President, the joint-stock company Uzbekgidroenergo was established. Over the past period, 11 new hydroelectric power plants have been built and 8 modernized. As a result, additional power generating capacities of 244 MW have been created.
However, the country's hydropower potential is only half used. In this regard, 21 major projects for the construction of power plants with a total capacity of 740 MW have been developed. In particular, next year it is planned to implement 7 projects with a total capacity of 170 MW, in 2023-2024 - 12 projects with a capacity of 150 MW, in 2025-2026 - 2 projects with a capacity of 420 MW.
During the presentation, instructions were given on high-quality construction and ensuring the sustainable operation of these structures.
The head of state paid special attention to the construction of small hydroelectric power plants that do not require the construction of dams, stressing the need to involve the private sector in this area.
To date, a list of 22 promising sites has been formed, on which, on the basis of a tender, it is planned to build a mini-hydroelectric power plants with a capacity of up to 5 MW.
It is also indicated that it is possible to install compact hydropower plants with a capacity of up to 500kW to supply power to villages located along rivers and canals, such as Naryn, Sokh, Tankhoz, Akbulak, Ugam. The list of such sites will be announced to the population and entrepreneurs. It has been determined that the benefits and subsidies given to individuals and entrepreneurs for the installation of wind power plants will also apply to small hydropower plants.
They the issue of training qualified specialists for the operation of hydraulic structures was also touched. It was noted that higher educational institutions in the field of technology, irrigation and architecture need to strengthen work in this direction, create educational laboratories for construction and hydraulics.