ACWA Power, announced in a statement that it has signed two significant agreements during the EBRD 2023 Annual Meeting and Business Forum in Samarkand that took place between 16 and 18 May 2023, marking a major milestone to advance Uzbekistan’s target to decarbonise 35% of its energy sector by 2030.
The first set of agreements entails a groundbreaking partnership with Uzkimyosanoat, the national holding company for chemicals in Uzbekistan, to decarbonise the sector through innovative green hydrogen projects. Construction will be executed in two phases achieving substantial reductions in natural gas consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The agreements were signed by Timur Mukhammedjanov, Chairman of the Board of Uzkimyosanoat; Sarvar Khamidov, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Sobirjon Artikov, Deputy Chairman of the National Electric Grid of the Republic of Uzbekistan (NEGU); and Marco Arcelli, Chief Executive Officer of ACWA Power.
The second set of agreements involves the signing of financing documents for Karatau wind farm, formerly referred to as the Nukus Wind Project, with a total investment value of US$120 million. The National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan (NEGU) will serve as the exclusive buyer of electricity generated by the project for 25 years. The Uzbek Ministry of Economy and Finance (MoEF) has provided support for the project through the Government Support Agreement (GSA). Project funding has been secured through Deutsche Investitions (DEG), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and Proparco. The financing agreements were signed by representatives of DEG, EBRD, Proparco, and Mr. Mohammad Abunayyan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ACWA Power.
The green hydrogen agreement with Uzkimyosanoat is the first project of its kind in Central Asia. The initial phase, valued around US$100 million, will be located in Tashkent region and aims to produce 3,000 tonnes per year of green hydrogen for the Uzbek chemicals industry to save up to 20.4 million cubic meters of natural gas annually. The first phase is a step towards a bigger project, the second phase, with an investment of US$4 billion, which will include scaling up green hydrogen production to 120,000 tonnes per year. The facility will save a total of 830 million cubic meters of natural gas annually and contribute to the reduction of 20 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. The project will also integrate world-class renewable energy technology with a capacity exceeding 2.6GW.
By embracing green hydrogen and replacing fossil fuels, Uzbekistan will make significant progress in reducing its carbon footprint and become a key partner for Europe in the supply of solutions for hard to abate sectors.
The Karatau Wind Project, with a capacity of 100MW, is expected to achieve commercial operation in February 2025.
ACWA Power received the Gold Award in the Sustainable Energy category, EBRD Sustainability Awards 2023 for its Bash and Dzhankeldy wind power projects in Uzbekistan. ACWA Power’s CEO, Marco Arcelli, presented the company’s views for Central Asia – the road to sustainable energy.
ACWA Power boasts an impressive portfolio of 10 projects in Uzbekistan, with a combined investment value of US$7.5 billion. The company’s continued investments and partnerships underline its dedication to the sustainable development of Uzbekistan’s energy landscape, promoting economic growth, and advancing the country’s renewable energy goals.
