Green energy expansion: Uzbekistan’s hydropower and nuclear plans enveiled

This year, Uzbekistan plans to construct 1,185 micro hydropower plants with a total capacity of 65 megawatts. The announcement was made on April 17, 2025, during a presentation to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the progress of energy sector tasks and new projects.

It was noted that numerous energy-related projects are carried out annually to meet the growing demand for energy sources. As a result of these efforts, electricity production in Uzbekistan has increased by 30% over the past five years, reaching 81.5 billion kilowatt-hours.

Projections show that by 2035, electricity consumption in Uzbekistan will reach 121 billion kilowatt-hours. To prepare for this demand, plans are underway to develop all aspects of the energy sector. By 2030, it is expected that "green" energy will constitute 54% of the total energy generation, with hydropower and nuclear energy identified as key contributors.

Between 2025 and 2026, a total of 2,983 micro hydropower plants with a combined capacity of 167 megawatts will be constructed. These projects will produce 500 million kilowatt-hours of environmentally friendly electricity and save 151 million cubic meters of natural gas. The construction phase will create 1,200 jobs, and an additional 520 jobs will be available after the projects are operational.

The Minister of Energy provided information on energy projects for 2025, noting that most of the planned 1,185 micro hydropower plants will be developed by private entrepreneurs.

In the future, nuclear energy is expected to become one of Uzbekistan's main energy sources. The government is currently working on a project to build a small-scale nuclear power plant. Each phase of the project, from design to completion, will be monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and will adhere to advanced global standards and safety requirements.

The head of the "Uzatom" agency presented updates on negotiations, agreements, and the progress of the nuclear power plant project.

Instructions were given to ensure the timely launch of planned facilities to provide additional energy for the population and various sectors of the economy.

Earlier, during a meeting on the development of Uzbekistan’s electricity sector from 2025 to 2035, President Mirziyoyev discussed plans to commission 3,000 micro hydropower plants with a combined capacity of 164 megawatts, as well as solar and wind power plants with a capacity of 750 megawatts by 2030.