The French Development Agency (AFD) will assist Uzbekistan in upgrading its heating infrastructure in the Fergana region, with a project set to begin in 2027.

On July 10, AFD and Uzbekistan’s state-owned utility company Issikliktaminoti signed a memorandum of understanding to modernize the district heating system in Kirguli, a suburb of Fergana located near the regional thermal power plant. The initiative aims to improve energy efficiency and expand access to centralized heating.

The project will involve the renovation of 76 kilometers of heating mains and the installation of 380 individual heating points across residential and public buildings. 

The preliminary cost of the project is estimated at $39.9mn. Once completed, the system is expected to serve 317 apartment buildings—covering approximately 16,600 households—and improve heating in 41 social facilities in the Kirguli mahalla.

This initiative is part of a broader national strategy to modernize outdated heating networks with support from international financial institutions. The strategy was formalized by a presidential decree in March 2025 and outlines the implementation of 13 projects worth a total of $325 million by 2030.

Of these, five projects are planned for the Fergana region—more than in any other part of the country—underscoring its significance in Uzbekistan’s energy infrastructure development.