Key facts
- Uzbekistan aims to increase electricity generation to over 120 billion kWh in five years.
- Renewable energy is projected to constitute 54% of Uzbekistan's electricity generation by 2030.
- The country has secured nearly $6 billion in foreign investment for green energy projects.
- Uzbekistan plans to invest an additional $4 billion in its electricity transmission networks.
- Construction has begun on Uzbekistan's first nuclear power plant, intended to provide low-carbon baseload capacity.
Uzbekistan is embarking on a significant expansion of its power sector, aiming to increase electricity generation from 82 billion kilowatt-hours to over 120 billion kilowatt-hours within the next five years. This ambitious target is driven by rising demand from industry, population growth, and the development of new sectors like digital infrastructure. The country is positioning its power sector as a major investment test, seeking to attract foreign capital while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced at the Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF) that renewable energy is expected to account for 54% of electricity generation by 2030. Uzbekistan has already attracted nearly $6 billion (€5.3 billion) in foreign investment for green energy projects and plans to invest an additional $4 billion (€3.5 billion) in electricity transmission networks. Mirziyoyev encouraged investment in solar and wind power plants, energy storage systems, grid modernization, and data centers powered by green energy, aligning these plans with the nation's industrial and digital development agenda.
International financial institutions are actively supporting this expansion. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) invested nearly $2 billion (€1.8 billion) across 120 projects in Central Asia and Mongolia in 2025, with over $1 billion (€880 million) allocated to Uzbekistan. More than half of the EBRD's regional investments were classified as green, and about one-third supported sustainable infrastructure. In Uzbekistan, EBRD financing has supported large-scale renewable energy and storage projects, including a $142 million (€125 million) package for a 1GW solar photovoltaic and 1,336MWh battery energy storage plant developed with ACWA Power. The bank also facilitated financing of up to $195.5 million (€171 million) for a 300MW solar plant and 75MWh battery storage facility by Masdar.
Huseyin Ozhan, EBRD's Managing Director for Central Asia and Mongolia, emphasized that increasing energy capacity requires both investment and regulatory reform. He noted that governments in the region have adopted long-term decarbonisation strategies, with international financial institutions assisting in developing roadmaps to reduce fossil fuel dependence. Ozhan stated that most Central Asian countries are committed to full decarbonisation by 2050 or 2060.
While renewables are central to Uzbekistan's strategy, the country is also diversifying its energy mix. In June, construction began on Uzbekistan's first nuclear power project, which will include two large reactors (approximately 1,000MW each) and two small modular reactors (around 55MW each). Sama Bilbao y León, Director General of the World Nuclear Association, commented that this move reflects a broader trend among developing economies seeking reliable electricity sources to support growth. She added that Uzbekistan, where 75% of electricity currently comes from natural gas, aims to use this gas for other applications, making nuclear energy a significant component of its future energy system.