TASHKENT (HydroWorld) — By a decree this month of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan announced that it will invest approximately $2.65 bln in hydroelectric development from 2017 to 2025. The decree is published in the national database of Uzbek legislation and indicates the country’s plans to develop 18 new hydroelectric projects and modernize 14 existing plants.

The target parameters in the decree indicate that the share of hydroelectric power plants will increase from 12.7% to 15.8%. Included in the development are two new hydropower plants on Pskem River in the Bostanlyk district of the Tashkent region that include the $810 mln 404 MW Pskem and $480 mln 240 MW Mullalak.

Funding for the proposed projects, under the Order-in-Council, is provided through more than $1 bln in loans from foreign financial institutions. The utility, Uzbekenergo Joint Stock Co. (Uzbekenergo JSC), will develop plants.

Uzbekistan said it plans to finance development and rehabilitation by “foreign financial institutions”. Funding will likely be facilitated in part by its membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Part of the declared goals of the SCO includes the expansion of trade, investment and connectivity.

According to government documents, in recent years, Uzbekistan has sought to improve energy efficiency in the economy and social sphere, as well as the extension of the use of renewable energy sources.

The most recent decree entitled On measures to further develop renewable energies, energy efficiency in the economic and social spheres for 2017-2021, published on 2 June, follows two similar decrees 2001 and again in 2015. The latest measure aims to ‘further reduce the energy intensity of the gross domestic product, reduce production costs and increase the use of energy from renewable sources’.

Through the decree, Uzbekistan also plans to commission the 100 MW Nijnechatkalskaya hydroelectric plant, estimated at about $180 mln, on the Chatkal River in the Bostanlyk district.