On November 20, the launch ceremony of the small hydroelectric power station Zarchob-2 with a capacity of 38.2 MW was held in the Sariasiyo district of Surkhandarya province. The new station will be able to provide electricity to 40 households. In April, the Zarchob-1 HPP with a capacity of 37.4 MW was launched.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Surkhandarya province governor Tura Bobolov said: “We generate electricity using the water of the Tupalang River three times ... Three or four days ago, cold weather came to Surkhandarya. In the morning we are receiving citizens, the first question they raise is the issue of electricity. These projects are our future."
The chairman of Uzbekgidroenergo, Abdugani Sanginov, said that the cost of the projects of the first and second Zarchob hydropower plants stand at US$ 80 million. Of this amount, US$ 29 million are investments by China, the rest is Uzbekhydroenergo's own funds.
“In 2006, the Tupalang River supplied only 30 MW of energy. Today we have projects of a total of 350 MW capacity. The two Zarchob HPPs generate a total of 75 MW of energy. In 2022, the Tupalang HPP with a capacity of 175 MW will be launched. The next project is the Misop-Kishtut station. One of them will be 50 MW, the second - 25 MW, for a total of 75 MW. Thus, we will achieve not three times, as Bobolov said, but five times the use of water to generate electricity,” said Abdugani Sanginov.
The equipment required for the new HPP was supplied by the Chinese Dongfang Electric International Corporation. The construction included the construction of a spiral chamber part of the hydro turbine, the construction of pressure basins and pipes and other stages.
The investment project is the follow-up of the Tupalang and Zarchob-1 HPPs. The new station was built at the outlet of the river from the Tupalang reservoir. The projects will allow in the future to provide the population of the Surkhandarya province with electricity by 80%.
At the end of the ceremony, the symbolic button for the launch of the hydroelectric power station was pressed.
