Sirdarya Gas (CCGT) Power Plant

The development, construction and operation of the 1500 MW Sirdarya Combined Cycle Gas-Turbine (CCGT) power plant in Uzbekistan was announced by he Government of Uzbekistan in April 2021. Build by Saudi company ACWA it is backed by a syndicate of seven international lenderswho will provide USD750 million loan for the USD1 billion project. These include the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), German Investment Corporation (DEG), Standard Chartered, Natixis, Société Générale, the OPEC Fund for International Development, and the Bank of China. The project to provide cleaner, more efficient and cost-competitive gas power that can be utilised across industries in Uzbekistan. Upon completion, it is expected to meet up to 15 percent of power demand in Uzbekistan and comprise eight percent of all installed power capacity in the country. it will offset 2.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

Proposed construction of a large Wind Farm in Karakalpakstan announced by the Government of Uzbekistan

Saudi Arabia-based energy company ACWA Power which won an international tender in 2020 to construct a large wind power plant in nKarakalpakstan offering a tariff of 2.5695 cents per kilowatt-hour of generated electricity (The runner up Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar) had offered a tariff of 2.6550 cents per kilowatt-hour.) The wind farm project implementation agreement was signed on May 3 2001 between the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade and the Saudi energy company ACWA Power. The project prooposed includes the development, construction and operation (of up to 400 MW/yr) wind power turbines in the Karauzyak and Beruni regions of the Karakalpakstan. It is expected to cost $140 million and once completed will provide electricity to about 110,000 households, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 157,000 tonnes per year, as well as creating more than 1,000 new jobs during the construction period. The wind farm is expected to be commissioned by mid-2023 and is part of the government’s wider programme aimed at diversifying the country’s energy balance by introducing alternative sources of electricity. Uzbekistan has set a goal of increasing to 25 percent the share of electricity generated from renewable sources in the total energy balance. Uzbekistan is to increase its renewable energy target to a total of 12 gigawatts by 2030 (photovoltaic solar plant capacity to 7 gigawatts and wind power generation to 5 gigawatts). ACWA Power International (ACWA Power) also has built projects in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. It is also investing in two wind power projects in Bukhara and Navoi, entered into earlier this year, with a combined power generation capacity of 500-1,000 MW, with relevant electricity purchase agreements and investment agreements signed. In addition, the Saudi company is set to build a 1,500 MW gas-fired power plant project in the Syrdarya. Source: https://www.thetribune.com/saudis-acwa-power-wins-tender-to-build-wind-power-plant-in-uzbekistan/ Note: From other sources both UAE's Masdar and Chinese power firm Lioaning are all planning the development of other large wind farms in Uzbekistan.

Building Sustainable Tourism in Karakalpakstan: An Enterprise Approach

UNESCO have launched in a new program 'Building Sustainable Tourism in Karakalpakstan: An Enterprise Approach' concentrating on promoting economic growth of tourism related businesses in Karakalpakstan (in particular ommunity-based and eco-tourism) based on the Enterprise approach to enhance the social wellbeing of the community hrough expanding income generation opportunities and promoting inclusive sustainable growth of the tourism sector in Karakalpakstan In particular community-based and eco-tourism focusing on how small and medium sized businesses can by good marketing, communication and interpretation, generate interest in tourists visiting this unique and amazing region. Theses initiatives are part of the joint UNDP and UNESCO Joint Programme “Addressing the urgent human insecurities in the Aral Sea region through promoting sustainable rural development” which is funded by the Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea region in Uzbekistan (MPHSTF) set up to help address the environmental issues, promoting access to basic services, improving the living standards and developing sustainable tourism in Karakalpakstan.

Reference: https://en.unesco.org/news/unesco-supports-development-sustainable-tourism-karakalpakstan