In the presence of Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman and Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Investments and Foreign Trade Minister Sardor Umurzakov, ACWA Power signed in Riyadh an implementation agreement with Uzbekistan for the development, construction and operation of a 1500 MW wind power project in Karakalpakstan, the Saudi company said on May 4.
Once operational, the project will become the largest wind farm in the Central Asian region, and one of the largest in the world, ACWA Power said.
The agreement was signed by ACWA Power Executive General Manager of Business Development Ayad AlAmri and Uzbekistan’s Deputy Energy Minister Sherzod Khodjaev and Deputy Investment and Foreign Trade Minister Shukhrat Vafaev.
ACWA Power Chairman Mohammad Abunayyan also attended the ceremony.
The implementation, development, construction, and operation of the largest wind farm in the Central Asian region seeks to bolster the Uzbekistan government’s efforts to diversify the country’s energy mix and increase its renewable energy capacity in line with recent strategic reforms. The announcement follows the signing of Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) and Investment Agreements for two wind power projects in Bukhara and Navoi, concluded earlier this year with an aggregate power generation capacity of 1000 MW. ACWA Power also has a 1500 MW high efficiency gas fired power project under construction in Sirdarya, Uzbekistan.
“We value our partnership with ACWA Power and welcome this expansion, which will be the largest facility of its kind in the Central Asian region once commissioned,” Umurzakov said. “This project will contribute to the implementation of our national renewable energy target of bringing the total renewable power generation capacity to 25% by 2030,” he added.
Uzbekistan’s Energy Minister Alisher Sultanov said Uzbekistan, as an energy producer, is learning much from its Middle Eastern, especially Saudi, partners as the Central Asian country navigates the transition to a low-carbon economy. “ACWA Power’s project will be a major contributor to our plan to generate 25% of our electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030,” he said.
For his part, the ACWA Power Chairman hailed the finalization of the implementation agreement for the 1500 MW Karakalpakstan wind farm with Uzbekistan.
The project is expected to cater to the power needs of approximately 4 million households and offset approximately 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide per year, contributing directly to the government’s aims to generate 30% of Uzbekistan’s power capacity from renewable sources by 2030, to meet growing yearly electricity demand, efficiently and sustainably.
