BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 26. China’s Universal
Energy is building a 500-megawatt wind power plant in Uzbekistan’s
Samarkand region, with the $500 million project expected to reach
full capacity in 2027, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy said.
Uzbekistan’s Energy Minister Sherzod Khodjayev visited the
construction site in Bulungur district to review progress,
construction and installation work, and preparations for
commissioning the facility on schedule.
The project is being financed through direct foreign investment
and is designed to expand Uzbekistan’s renewable energy capacity
and improve the reliability of electricity supplies.
Once fully operational, the wind farm is expected to generate
approximately 1.752 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually,
equivalent to the average yearly consumption of about 730,000
households.
In addition, the project is expected to save around 467 million
cubic meters of natural gas annually and reduce harmful emissions
by more than 1 million tons per year, according to the
ministry.
The first phase of the project is scheduled to begin operating
by the end of 2026, with the facility expected to reach its full
500-MW capacity in 2027.
During his visit, Khodjayev received updates on construction
progress and measures to meet the project’s implementation
schedule.
Once commissioned, the wind farm is expected to increase the
share of renewable energy in Uzbekistan’s electricity mix, reduce
reliance on natural gas for power generation and strengthen the
country’s energy security.
