The government of Uzbekistan finalized a public-private partnership (PPP) agreement with IFC support for a new thermal power plant in the Syrdarya region, which will help modernize the country’s power sector, reduce costs, and cut carbon emissions. Uzbekistan’s JSC National Electric Grid and Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade signed the 25-year project agreement with a consortium comprising Electricite De France (EDF), Nebras Power Sojitz Corporation and Kyuden International. The consortium will be responsible for building and operating the 1,600-megawatt combined cycle gas turbine power plant.
IFC partnered with the Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF) to assist the Uzbek government in structuring and implementing the PPP and assisted in the competitive international tender for the project. GIF is a G20 initiative, supporting quality sustainable infrastructure solutions in emerging markets and developing economies.
Uzbekistan’s electricity generation is currently dominated by gas. The new plant is expected to be almost twice as efficient as older models, helping to decrease gas consumption, reduce the country’s carbon footprint, and support the integration of renewable energy.