Electricity production growth has been largely driven by the expanding role of the private sector, which has added 11.2 gigawatts of capacity. As a result, private companies now contribute 24% of the country’s total electricity generation.
In the past eight years, household incomes have increased by 1.6 times, and electricity consumption in homes has surpassed 21 billion kilowatt-hours, driven by the use of new household appliances. This is twice the amount consumed in 2016.
By 2030, Uzbekistan’s population is expected to grow to 41 million, and the economy is projected to expand by 1.5 times. In line with this, plans include creating $45 billion worth of added value in industry, tripling the service sector, and launching major data centers.
For these goals to be realized, a stable and reliable electricity supply is essential. According to projections, by 2030, electricity demand will reach 117 billion kilowatt-hours, and by 2035, it will rise to 135 billion kilowatt-hours—1.7 times more than current levels.
At the meeting, the Minister of Energy presented a long-term program designed to meet these demands.
As noted, new power plants and energy storage facilities will be built. To integrate these into the national grid, a 7,000-kilometer transmission network will be constructed, and digital management systems will be implemented. This will ensure balanced energy distribution across regions, allowing for the transfer of power from areas with surplus capacity to those facing shortages. To support these efforts, $4 billion in investments will be needed over the next five years for the “Uzbekistan National Power Grids.”
Another key issue is reducing the cost of electricity. This can be achieved by increasing the share of alternative energy sources. Experts from abroad also highlight Uzbekistan’s significant potential for "green" energy.
Accordingly, by 2030, the share of green energy in total generation is set to exceed 50%. This will include the deployment of 164 megawatts from 3,000 micro-hydropower plants, as well as 750 megawatts from solar and wind power installations.
The President emphasized the need for a transition to a resource-efficient economic model.
Specifically, energy efficiency improvements in industry could contribute an additional 27% to the country’s GDP. Currently, energy consumption in some local chemical and metallurgical industries is double the global average, and in cement production, it is 1.2 times higher.
As a result, the goal is to reduce energy consumption by 10–15% across all sectors, and to cut electricity losses from the current 14% to 8-9% by 2030.
Work has already begun on 24 gigawatts of projects, worth $26 billion, with foreign investors. These projects will require significant amounts of equipment and construction materials, presenting a substantial opportunity for local enterprises. The need to promote localization and cooperation in these projects has been emphasized.
Additionally, objectives have been set to ensure stable, uninterrupted electricity supply for consumers and to enhance the development of personnel training in the sector.
In light of these goals, the relevant authorities have been tasked with preparing a comprehensive program for the development of the electric power sector through 2035.
