The German Graess Energy has begun construction of a solar power plant in Muinak, Karakalpakstan, a source at Uzbekenergo told Tashkent Times.
The pilot project will be implemented into two phases., a US$12 million solar power plant with 10 MW capacity will be built in phase I, with the equipment& material to be supplied by German Siemens and Kaso, Norwegian REC and Chinese Suntech.
In phase II, the power plant capacity will be raised to 20 MW, with the German company expected to invest another US$12 million. The plant will produce about 20 million kWh electricity annually.
The inauguration of Muinak-1 solar plant is scheduled for October this year.
In total by 2021 Uzbekistan intends to build five solar photovoltaic plants with a total capacity of 500 MW and estimated cost of more than US$1.1 billion.
SkyPower Global has also pledged to invest US$1.3 billion for the construction of solar power plants in Uzbekistan’s Tashkent, Samarkand, Navoi, Djizak, Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya provinces.
The UAE-based Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC) and the French Total EREN have also expressed interest in Uzbekistan solar projects.
