Uzbekenergo JSC, a government-owned power utility, has issued request for selection (RfS) for 100 MW of grid-connected solar projects to be developed in Navoi Oblast.

According to the Uzbekistan government, the successful investor for the project will be finalized by June 2019.

According to an official release, “With the assistance of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, a tender was launched to attract private investors for the design, financing, construction and operation of solar PV stations. At the end of November 2018, a conference for potential investors was held in Tashkent, in which more than 20 major energy companies and international financial organizations took part that showed great interest in public private partnership (PPP) projects in the Republic of Uzbekistan.”

The cabinet of ministers of Uzbekistan has written to the Khokimiyat of Navoi region that the required land should be made available for the project within 10 days of receiving the application.

The State Investment Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan is the coordinator for the implementation of the agreement and the project. This is a pilot project. Based on the experience of the project implementation and negotiations with the IFC, the volumes and terms of the implementation of the agreement at other sites for a total capacity of up to 900 MW, will be held and then subsequent tenders will be issued.

In May 2018, IFC had signed a mandate with the government of Uzbekistan to increase its renewable power capacity and encourage private sector investment in Uzbekistan’s renewable energy sector.

Despite having significant solar resources, Uzbekistan is highly dependent on natural gas for electricity generation. The government aims to develop the renewable energy sector to diversify the country’s energy mix and attract private investment in the sector.