International roundtable with government and international financial institutions to discuss ways to scale-up deployment of renewable energy in Uzbekistan
The goal of an international roundtable organised today by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank Group and the Government in a virtual format is to discuss taking the energy mix transformation in Uzbekistan to the next level.
Although rich in oil and gas reserves, Uzbekistan has embarked on an ambitious and far-reaching plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and eventually achieve carbon neutrality of the domestic energy sector by 2050. The country plans to focus on the development of low-carbon energy sources including solar, hydro and wind energy.
The EBRD has supported Uzbekistan in the development of a roadmap towards carbon neutrality. The WBG is also assisting the Government with transition to energy market, improving the enabling environment for energy decarbonization, and preparation of pioneer renewable energy projects under the WBG Scaling Solar Program. The development partners are providing technical support and assistance in financing, in particular, the development and implementation of projects for large-scale power plants based on renewables, for the modernisation of the power grid and the decommissioning, modernisation and conversion of old power plants.
Uzbekistan has strong potential in the development of wind and solar power and the EBRD and WBG most recently signed some of the first private investments in this area (Nur Navoi Solar and Samarkand Solar projects).
In his address the Minister of Energy, Mr Alisher Sultanov, said:
“[..]The resolution of the President "On measures to develop renewable and hydrogen energy in the Republic of Uzbekistan" was adopted. We are at the start of this work, and this is a new interesting and important direction for our professionals and consumers in general. We are carefully studying the best international practices in countries such as Germany, Russia, the Netherlands, China and Spain. I am confident that this exchange of experience will help us to shape our path and succeed in attracting international investment in this area. We are taking bold and concrete steps to implement a number of strategic and sectoral measures aimed at expanding the use of renewable energy sources and building infrastructure for hydrogen energy.”
The international roundtable “Accelerating Renewable Energy Development for Clean Energy Transition in Uzbekistan” discussed ways of scaling up the deployment of renewable energy within the framework of the clean energy transition agenda of the government of Uzbekistan. The event examined the current status and future plans and drew on best practices in strategy, policy, regulations, technologies, private sector participation and innovative financing mechanisms.
Speakers addressed issues such as challenges, new reforms in the renewables sector; creating an enabling environment for renewables, including legal and regulatory framework and institutional responsibilities; government’s plans for the transition to a competitive wholesale electricity market; clean energy transition and decarbonisation of the energy sector, and many others.
The link to the recording of the roundtable discussion can be found here:
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