The CentralAsia.news editorial staff continues to review the energy sector of the Central Asian states. We should note that the articles are caused by the major accident in the power grid of the region in late January. Uzbekistan experienced significant problems of the “energy ring”.
In an interview with the editorial staff, an independent expert Evgeny Kudryats described the biggest problem of the energy sector of Central Asia. He also dwelled on the development prospects of this sector in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
The interlocutor emphasised that the key characteristic of energy facilities is dilapidation. Kudryats explained that most of the power plants were built during the Soviet period. Their old equipment reminds of the bygone era.
Last year’s drought exacerbated the situation. The natural phenomenon hit the hydropower industry in the region. The consequences are still being felt to this day, Kudryats said.
“Energy” plans of Uzbekistan
Undoubtedly, Tashkent is well aware that old equipment becomes less repairable over the years. Technical problems will directly affect national security. The expert noted that the authorities of Uzbekistan have developed the power generation development programme for the period up to 2030.
- It envisages implementing major investment projects to increase power generation capacity, including the construction of new power units with a total capacity of about 27 GW totally worth about US$35 billion. This will allow decommissioning obsolete power units at thermal power plants with a total capacity of 6.4 GW,” the interlocutor commented.
The expert emphasised that high-tech units would raise the efficiency of power units up to 60%.
“Particular attention is being paid to building the republic’s first nuclear power plant with a capacity of 2.4 GW,” Kudryats emphasised.
The authorities of the republic do not forget about “green” energy. The focus is on the construction of solar and wind power plants. The total capacity of the facilities will reach 6.7 GW.
Yevgeny Kudryats stressed that the country is preparing for large-scale construction of energy networks. The length of power lines will be 2,700 kilometres. Moreover, 9 substations will be built. All these projects require US$2.4 billion.
“Certainly, the existing state energy companies are not able to inject a required volume of investment in the electric power industry, private investment needs to be attracted as well. It is planned to build new power plants with a total capacity of 15 GW, which will be done through direct investment amounting about US$17.3 billion,” Kudryats said.
In the future, the most optimal way is to sell certain equity interests of these power plants to private investors and create joint ventures through PPP (public-private partnership), he added.
“Secured” Kyrgyzstan
Describing Kyrgyzstan, Kudryats said it ranks among the states with energy resources, noting that most of them is hydropower resources.
“According to experts, their potential reserves are estimated at 142 billion kWh, of which about 10 percent have been developed to date,” the interlocutor said.
Superior endowments of natural resources have facilitated the rapid growth in Kyrgyzstan’s energy sector, Kudryats noted.
The energy system fully meets the electricity demand of the economic sectors and the population of the country and allows exporting electricity. Kudryats said it is exported to Kazakhstan, China and Uzbekistan. The exports amount to 2-2.5 billion kWh per year, however it can be increased up to 3 billion kWh.
The interlocutor noted that Bishkek is actively working towards the financial recovery of the energy sector, creating a competitive environment and attracting investment. For these purposes, the electric power industry has been restructured.
