Negotiations took place between Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan Khurshed Mustafayev and representatives of the World Bank on supporting small and micro-hydroenergy projects in the country.
During the negotiations, Uzbekistan’s goals in the field of renewable energy, the importance of relevant projects and the necessary technical and financial solutions were discussed. The possibility of World Bank support in the preparation of investment and financing projects for the small hydropower sector was also considered.
Particular attention is paid to the importance of developing small and micro-hydroelectric power plants to ensure the country’s energy security, improve electricity supply in rural areas and create new opportunities for small businesses.
World Bank officials noted that several major technical studies have already been conducted in the area of small and micro hydropower, including an initial assessment of the potential of small and medium-sized hydropower plants conducted in 2021.
It was reported that, based on these studies, new technical assistance mechanisms and financial instruments were being developed to implement the selected projects.
Uzbekistan expressed its readiness to continue close cooperation with the World Bank and emphasized the importance of working together to build several small hydroelectric power stations.
During the negotiations, an agreement was reached to create an operational working group to resolve issues of financing, technical expertise and environmental aspects.
Following the meeting, the parties agreed to hold weekly meetings to promptly resolve current issues and speed up the preparation of projects. The World Bank expressed high interest in the project and called for the active participation of both parties.
In addition, the negotiations reviewed previous achievements of the World Bank in the field of hydropower and technical assistance projects implemented in Uzbekistan, including the development of public-private partnership mechanisms in hydropower and attracting investors.
In the future, the parties agreed to strengthen regular communication and technical support for the effective implementation of projects.
UzDaily.uz
