Energy is becoming a cornerstone of Uzbekistan's transformation, stated today the Deputy PM Jamshid Khodjaev during his opening speech at the Uzbekistan Energy Week 2026 (UEW 2026) in Tashkent.
According to Deputy PM Khodjaev, approximately $35 billion in direct investment has been channeled into the sector in recent years. This has resulted in 9 GW of new generating capacity and an nearly 40% increase in electricity production, which rose from 60 billion to 85 billion kWh. The country's total installed capacity has now reached nearly 26 GW.
The Deputy PM noted that the energy sector "drives competitiveness, strengthens infrastructure, and connects regions," describing it as "one of the key pillars of national resilience and long-term security."
"For many years, energy in Uzbekistan was primarily viewed as a constraint. Today, our ambitions have changed. We want energy to become one of Uzbekistan’s strongest advantages—for households, regional cooperation, and, of course, for the green transition," he stated.
Khodjaev highlighted the development of "green" energy as a specific priority. He reported that solar and wind capacity in Uzbekistan has exceeded 5.5 GW. When combined with hydropower, the share of clean generation in the energy mix has reached approximately 30%.
"This is a major shift. We are no longer just thinking about the energy transition—we are building it," he remarked.
However, the Deputy PM emphasized that new generating capacity alone is not enough. A modern power system must be "reliable, flexible, and well-planned," capable of integrating renewable sources, providing uninterrupted power to industry and the public, and giving investors the confidence to launch large-scale projects.
"In other words, we are not just building power plants - we are creating a comprehensive energy ecosystem around them," Khodjaev said.
He further noted that over 69,000 km of power lines and 14,000 substations have been upgraded and modernized across the country. While this work "is not always visible to the outside world," he explained that it is what determines the actual reliability of supply, the stability of the grid, and the ability to rapidly connect new industrial and energy facilities.
Khodjaev identified localization as another top priority. He noted that the volume of domestic goods, services, and supplies for the energy sector has already surpassed $700 million, with the potential to grow to more than $1.3 billion.
"Our goal isn’t simply to import technology. We aim to foster local engineering, local manufacturing, local services, and local expertise, while building long-term industrial partnerships," he stated.
According to the Deputy PM, Uzbekistan’s energy transformation is now moving beyond the national agenda and taking on regional significance. Khodjaev declared that the country is cementing its role as a central energy hub for Central Asia and is actively driving regional energy cooperation.
He also touched upon the collaboration with Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan on the "Green Corridor" project, which aims to export clean electricity to Europe.
Finally, the Deputy PM addressed the challenges ahead. He noted that electricity demand will continue to climb, driven by industrialization, globalization, digitalization, and rising living standards.
He emphasized that Uzbekistan must focus on reducing losses, accelerating digitalization, modernizing its grids, expanding energy storage capacity, deepening localization, and strengthening regional electricity trade.
"The first stage was about opening up the sector and launching major projects. The next phase must be dedicated to quality, efficiency, sustainability, and technological depth—creating local value and driving regional integration," he said.
Uzbekistan’s energy development strategy through 2035 envisions the creation of a wholesale electricity market, the transfer of certain grid segments to private operators, and the implementation of Regulatory Asset Base (RAB) tariffs, as detailed by BCG partner Igor Alexeyev in October 2025. Energy consumption is projected to climb to 123 billion kWh, with generation capacity set to increase by 34 GW.
At an Asian Development Bank meeting in Samarkand, Deputy PM Jamshid Khodjaev revealed that Uzbekistan—once a net importer of electricity—is now supplying power to Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Afghanistan. He disclosed specific supply volumes, stating that the country is evolving into a "reliable producer," a vital transit corridor, and a regional integrator of energy systems.
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