Tashkent hosted an international conference on “Reforms and prospects in electric power industry: experience and conclusions”, in cooperation with the Joint Stock Company “Uzbekenergo” and the Asian Development Bank. 

It should be noted that this conference dedicated to the energy sector is being held in Uzbekistan for the first time. It was attended by heads of electric power holding companies of Central Asia and Afghanistan, experts of the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, representatives of global consulting companies. 

Participants exchanged views on such issues as reforming and streamlining tariff policy in the industry, stimulating investment. They also dwelled on the experience of different countries in this direction. 

According to Deputy Chairman of the Board of JSC “Uzbekenergo” Jahongir Obidjonov, within the framework of implementation of relevant decrees and resolutions of the President of the country, JSC “Uzbekenergo” and the Asian Development Bank are planning to invest 1 billion 700 thousand dollars. In the future, ADB is planning to finance projects worth $1 billion. 

Another innovation in this filed is the fact that in the country new steam and gas installations have been launched to increase the efficiency of electricity production with participation of the Asian Development Bank, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and other financial institutions, leading companies at territorial TPPs. Now a combined-cycle plant with a capacity of 478 MW operates in Navoi TPP, in Talimarjan TPP with a capacity of 900 MW, and in Tashkent TPP with a capacity of 378 MW. 

Conclusions and proposals on the essence and significance of reforms in the energy sector of the Central Asian countries, experience accumulated in the industry, prospects for cooperation in the field of electricity transit in the region were heard at the plenary sessions. 

Malokhat Khusanova, UzA