Uzbekistan partners with France on €340M water supply projects

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting on several key issues, including improving drinking water supply and heating, upgrading neighborhoods, and advancing agriculture, the presidential press service reported.

This year, 1,600 km of water supply networks and 521 km of sewerage systems are set to be installed, providing clean drinking water to 715,000 people and sewerage services to 135,000 households. Additionally, 157,000 households will receive modern water meters.

Uzbekistan has partnered with French companies to implement three water supply projects in the Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya regions, with a total investment of €340 million.

For example, the French company Suez will manage the water supply system in Denau, Shurchi, Sariosiyo, and Kumkurgan, increasing the region’s centralized water supply coverage to 90%.

The government emphasized the need for greater private sector participation in the sewerage sector. To accelerate progress, tenders involving international organizations will be expedited, aiming to complete $850 million worth of projects by the end of the year.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide $125 million for the digital transformation of Uzbekistan’s water supply system. By 2030, the country aims to install 4,800 smart meters and 2,800 telemetry systems on major hydro-technical facilities and pipelines. Maintenance of water meters will gradually be transferred to private companies.

The discussion also addressed challenges in the heating sector, particularly excessive gas consumption. As part of an approved reform program, 19 trillion UZS will be allocated to restore and modernize heating networks, increasing centralized heating coverage to 58%.

President Mirziyoyev instructed the Ministry of Construction to develop an energy efficiency program for apartment buildings. Transitioning 9,000 residential buildings and social facilities to a closed-loop heating system is expected to reduce heat loss by 50% and gas consumption by 20%.