To increase hydropower capacity in Uzbekistan, 250 promising sites for microhydroelectric power plant projects have been identified. This was discussed at a meeting on improving electricity supply on January 19 by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
According to estimates, future micro hydroelectric power plants will generate 675 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and save 200 million cubic meters of gas per year.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev set the task of building hybrid power plants based on wind and solar sources on free plots around hydroelectric power plants. Due to the availability of ready-made infrastructure, the construction costs of such plants will be low.
According to the presidential press service, in recent years, $500 million worth of 27 projects have been implemented in the hydropower industry and an additional 260 megawatts of generating capacity have been created. The total capacity of stations of Uzbekhydroenergo system has surpassed 2,000 megawatts. This means an annual saving of 2 billion cubic meters of natural gas.
This year, it is planned to commission 7 facilities and 10 micro hydroelectric power plants with a capacity of 197 megawatts. In addition, work will begin on the implementation of 8 promising projects and the construction of 50 micro hydroelectric power plants with a capacity of 438 megawatts.
The head of state also raised the issue of localization and instructed to launch production of equipment for micro hydroelectric power plants at Suvsanoatmash plant, as well as hydroelectric units in the Tashkent province.
Digitalization of reservoir management and advanced training of personnel were discussed separately.
He set the goals to increase daily energy production in wake of electricity shortage, fair and efficient distribution of resources, systematic delivery of energy to places, and prompt elimination of interruptions.
