In Uzbekistan, investors for energy projects will be selected on a competitive basis

In Uzbekistan, investors for energy projects will be selected through an open tender

Shavkat Mirziyoyev familiarized himself with a presentation dedicated to the prospects of electric power development and the improvement of project management mechanisms in the fuel and energy sector. This was reported by the president's press service.

In the presentation, particular emphasis was placed on proposals for a radical renewal of the system for formulating and implementing investment projects in the sector.

In practice, in many cases, a project is initiated by the investor. Land plots, grid connection, technical specifications, tariffs, and investment agreements are negotiated separately with various agencies. This leads to delays in processes, duplication of agency functions, and insufficient integration of some projects with system needs.

For this reason, a new management model was proposed. From now on, energy projects will, first of all, be formulated based on the future needs of the economy, the population, and the regions.

First, the demand will be determined, and then the necessary generation and infrastructure capacities will be planned. A project with pre-prepared land plots, grid connection points, and technical solutions will be formulated, and the investor will be selected on an open and competitive tender basis.

In this process, the tasks and responsibilities of each agency will be clearly defined. The Ministry of Economy and Finance will formulate the demand forecast, the Ministry of Energy will be responsible for strategic planning and technical policy, and the Energy Market Regulator will regulate market relations and tariffs.

Agencies responsible for the investment sector will attract investors on an open tender basis, while local khokimiyats (administrations) will resolve land and necessary infrastructure issues.

It was also proposed to formulate a precise forecast of energy resource needs by region and sector, and to adopt annually updated three-year investment plans on this basis. This will allow for the pre-planning of generation capacities, power grids, and necessary infrastructure in harmony with one another.

In the long term, it is planned to develop a concept for supplying fuel and energy resources until 2050. It will comprehensively take into account national resource potential, demographic and economic growth, energy efficiency, the development of renewable and nuclear energy, as well as ensuring energy security. It was proposed to review the concept every five years.

The head of state emphasized that every new project in the energy sector must serve the long-term needs of the economy and the population, and a constant balance between production, grid load, and consumption must be ensured.

The officials were given relevant instructions to launch ongoing major projects within the specified timeframes, take concrete measures with investors regarding delayed ones, develop generation capacities and power grids in a balanced manner, expand energy storage systems, and introduce the new planning and management model in the sector.