Uzbekistan has handed over its power distribution networks to a Turkish company for private management.
Following an international tender, the Turkish company Aksa Electric was awarded control of the regional power distribution networks of Uzbekistan—the first such project in the country's history.
For the first time, Uzbekistan has transferred the management of its electricity distribution grids to a private investor, the Turkish company Aksa Electric, with mandatory capital investments. This was announced by Energy Minister Sherzod Khodjayev at a meeting on the fuel and energy sector chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Following an international tender, Aksa Electric was awarded the management of grids in several regions and will be responsible for their modernization.
In an interview with the O'zbekiston 24 television channel, Minister Khodjayev clarified that all existing local staff will retain their jobs, and only 15 specialists will be brought in from abroad.
The investor has committed to purchasing at least 90% of the necessary equipment from Uzbek manufacturers. Furthermore, the company is required to implement 400 microprojects in mahallas (neighborhoods), secured by reliable bank guarantees, within two years.
The project was presented by the Ministry of Energy as part of a broader presentation at a meeting that also discussed the results of work to create energy passports for mahallas in 14 pilot districts and the construction of power grids in Afghanistan by Uzbek companies.