QAZAQ GREEN.  On 5 December, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev inaugurated 42 new energy facilities and launched construction of 21 additional projects, the Uzbekistan’s presidential press office reports.

The event gathered ministers from the UAE, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Kyrgyzstan, as well as representatives of major international financial institutions and global energy companies.

The commissioned facilities include 16 solar, wind, thermal, and hydropower plants with a combined capacity of 3.5 GW. Once fully operational, they will generate 15 billion kWh annually and raise Uzbekistan’s “green” energy output to 23 billion kWh next year, covering household demand. They are expected to save nearly 7 bcm of natural gas and prevent 11 million tons of emissions.

Ten energy storage systems with a total capacity of 1,245 MW, eleven substations, and 420 km of high-voltage lines were also commissioned.

Two new industrial plants, Angren Energo and Uzhydropower, will boost domestic production of transformers and hydropower equipment.

In recent years, Uzbekistan has attracted $35 billion in energy investments and added 9 GW of new capacity, increasing annual generation from 60 to 85 billion kWh. Solar and wind facilities contributed around 5 GW, with small household solar systems adding 2 GW.

To meet rising demand, the country plans to commission more than 17 GW of renewable capacity by 2030 and construct 6,000 km of high-voltage lines. Public-private partnerships will expand, starting with the transfer of Samarkand’s regional power grids to Aksa Elektrik.

Uzbekistan will continue supporting small-scale solar and hydropower projects and is implementing the iCRAFT initiative with the World Bank to advance carbon trading. At the COP-30 conference, the country committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2035.

Cooperation with neighboring states will strengthen, including work with Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan on the Kambarata-1 hydropower project and efforts with Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan on a “green” energy export corridor to Europe.

The ceremony concluded with the symbolic launch of 42 new facilities and the start of construction on 21 more.