Major Achievements 

During the period 2003-2005, a review was conducted on the basic principles and priority directions for the economic reform in the power sector. Through “the Program for Development and Reconstruction of Generating Capacities in the Power Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the period till 2010” work is being done to further develop the process for de-monopolization, privatization, and the sale of power companies to the public.

 Major Challenges

The greatest challenge for the power sector in Uzbekistan is the aging infrastructure of thermal power stations. Of the 63 turbine units with a power rating from 25 to 800 MW, 39 turbine units have been in operation for more than 30 years.

 National Energy Plan

In 2000, “The Program for Development and Reconstruction of Generating Capacities in the Power Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the period till 2010” was approved by Government for the purpose of uninterrupted power supply and to create favourable conditions for the development of a stable and effective National Power Industry. The program envisages a radical reconstruction of the existing power facilities, an increase in the efficiency of fuel use, the introduction of new technologies for energy production, and a reduction in environmental impacts.

 Environmental management

Figure 34 shows the emissions of pollutants from the Uzbekistan power sector between 2003 and 2005. Emissions have slightly reduced in 2005 compared with 2003 and 2004. According to the 2001 “Status of the Environment in Uzbekistan”, measures taken to mitigate emissions include a maximum emission level being placed on utilities by the State Committee for Nature Protection (Goskompriroda) (60) .

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2004 were estimated to be around 21 million tonnes (IEA). Uzbekistan is investigating CDM options though none have been approved as of September 2007.

 Energy efficiency

The Uzbekistan power industry is still one of the least efficient in the world (61). However some measures have been undertaken to improve this situation.

Toward the end of 2005, efficiency measures implemented in the power sector enabled a 20 per cent increase in the volume of electric energy generated while retaining the consumption of fuel at the existing levels. To increase the efficiency of energy use, some turbines were reconstructed. As a result, the specific fuel consumption was lowered, making it possible to save 155,000 tons of fuel per year. In 2005, power generation utilizing this more efficient equipment enabled a saving of 263,000 tons of standard fuel.

 Renewable Energy

The use of hydropower potential is considered as a first step in the development of renewable energy. The company Uzbekenergo has 28 hydroelectric power plants in operation with an installed capacity of 1,420 MW. In the near future, the hydropower production capacity will be increased through a large-scale development of mini-hydropower plants with capacity of 440 MW at the waterworks. This would allow an annual production of additional 1.3 billion kWh of electric energy.

Uzbekistan has a great potential for utilizing renewable resources such as hydro, wind and solar power. Considerable solar energy resources exist with an actual achievable production of around 177 million toe or 7.4 TJ .(62)

Stakeholders

Uzbekenergo, State Joint Stock Company
Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources

(60) UNEP/GRID-Arendal, , State of Environment Report for Uzbekistan (2001), http://enrin.grida.no/htmls/uzbek/env2001/content/soe/index_frame.htm, accessed in August 2007.
(61) UNDP Uzbekistan, Policy Brief Options for Continuing Energy Reforms in Uzbekistan (UNDP,2007)
(62) Ibid.