Masdar breaks ground on wind farm project in Uzbekistan

Masdar signed an agreement with Uzbekistan govt to extend the capacity of its utility-scale wind farm project to 1.5GW

Masdar has signed an Implementation Agreement with the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan to extend the capacity of its utility-scale wind farm project – the first such project in Uzbekistan – to up to 1.5 gigawatts (GW).

The agreement was signed in the presence of HE Sardor Umurzakov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade for the Republic of Uzbekistan, HE Alisher Sultanov, Minister of Energy for the Republic of Uzbekistan, and HE Saeed Matar Al-Qemzi, UAE Ambassador to Uzbekistan, during an event in Tashkent to celebrate the groundbreaking on the project, with HE Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Chairman of Masdar, and HE Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure for the UAE, attending virtually.

HE Shukhrat Vafaev, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade, and HE Sherzod Khodjaev, Deputy Minister of Energy, signed the project capacity extension agreement with Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar.

H.E. Sardor Umurzakov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade for the Republic of Uzbekistan, said, “Mobilization of renewable energy potential in Uzbekistan would provide significant contribution to sustainable economic growth and fighting climate change.

Along with that, expansion of clean power generation capacities by Masdar will support our objective to double the volume of electricity generation by 2030. Masdar will become a strong bridge connecting our countries, through which new Emirati companies will also invest in Uzbekistan.”

HE Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, said, “For the UAE it is important that our actions on climate can help amplify the efforts of others around the world.

This partnership is a clear example of how we are putting that tenet into practice. Together, we have an unprecedented opportunity to leverage our collective climate action to enhance sustainable growth in Uzbekistan, while making real progress on global climate goals.”

HE Suhail Al Mazrouei, the UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said, “The landmark agreement will enhance co-operation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates in the field of renewable energy.

As signatories to the Paris Agreement, Uzbekistan and the UAE are committed to driving collective action on climate. We look forward to strengthening our relationship with Uzbekistan further by developing more clean energy projects with them in future.”

Masdar entered into bilateral agreements with the Government of Uzbekistan last year to develop, build and operate the 500-megawatt (MW) wind farm project, its second utility-scale clean energy project in the country, and the largest wind farm in Central Asia. The project will attract foreign direct investment of more than US$600 million.

Extending the capacity of the project, located in the Zarafshan district of the Navoi region, to as much as 1.5GW will further help Uzbekistan achieve its objectives of adding up to 3GW of wind energy and meeting 25% of its electricity needs from renewable sources by the end of the decade.

The 500MW Zarafshan wind farm is expected to begin commercial operation by the end of 2024. At a capacity of 500MW, the project would provide enough electricity to power 500,000 homes, while displacing 1.1 million tons of carbon dioxide per year.

Masdar signed the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and Investment Agreement for the Zarafshan wind farm with the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan and JSC National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan in June last year.

Last December, Masdar announced financial close on the 100MW Nur Navoi Solar Project – Uzbekistan’s first successfully-financed independent power producer (IPP) solar project. Masdar signed a PPA and Government Support Agreement with the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan in November 2019 to design, finance, build and operate the solar plant.

Masdar was announced as the winning bidder for the solar project after tendering the lowest tariff of 2.679 US cents per kilowatt hour in a competitive auction.

Source: constructionweekonline