World Bank funds $100 M Uzbekistan grid project
$150 M programme will modernise outdated power infrastructure, support renewables, and reduce emissions across key regions in Uzbekistan.
Image for illustrative purposes
Uzbekistan: The World Bank has approved a $100 M credit to modernise Uzbekistan’s electricity distribution network, with an additional $50 M from Regional Electric Power Networks (REPN). This marks Uzbekistan’s first project using the World Bank’s Program-for-Results (PforR) financing model.
Over half of Uzbekistan’s power grid is more than 30 years old, plagued by frequent outages and technical losses that amount to nearly 13 % of total electricity. The aging system poses a significant obstacle to the government’s plan to install 25 GW of renewable energy by 2030.
The five-year initiative will target upgrades in regions like Karakalpakstan and Surkhandarya, and will include:
- Modernisation of 6,000 km of power lines
- Installation of 1,200 new transformers
- Deployment of 150,000 smart meters
- Rollout of 4,000 data concentrators for grid automation.
Beyond technical improvements, the project will also focus on enhancing REPN’s financial and operational performance, corporate governance, and planning capabilities to attract private investment.
World Bank Country Director Tatiana Proskuryakova emphasised the scale of the challenge, noting the sector needs $3 B in total investment. She called for broader support from development partners and investors.
By 2029, the program aims to reduce CO₂ emissions by 450,000 t annually, improve service reliability, and boost women’s participation in technical leadership from 9 % to 14 %.
Source: The Times of Central Asia
#infrastructure upgrade#power grid#Regional Electric Power Networks#renewable energy#REPN#Tatiana Proskuryakova#transformers#Uzbekistan#World Bank