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Uzbekistan to Drill Deeper for Natural Gas

Uzbekistan to Drill Deeper for Natural Gas A government meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on December 18th discussed the country’s geological exploration program for 2024. At the meeting, it was stated that work is being carried out in two directions: maintaining natural gas production volumes at existing fields and discovering new reserves. In recent years, the depth of geological exploration has been increased from 2-3 kilometers to 4-5 kilometers. As a result, new gas reserves were discovered and an additional 4.4 billion cubic meters were produced. An international consulting company was also involved in this work, which helped to identify many promising areas. Next year, it is planned to carry out seismic work on an area of 3,500 square kilometers and drill new exploratory wells. The meeting considered the ways to transition geological drilling to a depth of 6-7 kilometers using advanced technologies. The issue of attracting foreign investment in the sector was also discussed. In recent years, Uzbekistan’s natural gas industry has experienced problems due to the depletion of reserves at existing fields. This year, Uzbekistan started importing natural gas from Russia through Kazakhstan.

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Uzbekistan Provides Incentives for Households to Install Solar Panels

As part of a government program to encourage the installation of low-power solar panels (up to 50 kW) in households in regions of Uzbekistan, citizens are to be provided with a subsidy for electrical energy produced by solar panels. For electricity produced by solar panels installed on properties and facilities owned by individuals, a subsidy of 1,000 Uzbek som (0.081U$) is to be allocated for every kilowatt-hour of surplus electrical energy transferred to the national power grid, the Uzbek Energy Ministry said. Persons who have installed renewable energy sources are also exempt from land tax and property tax. Individuals and legal entities who have installed renewable energy sources with a total capacity of up to 100 kW are exempt from paying the property tax from such devices, land tax on plots occupied by devices, and profit tax for electricity sold by legal entities to the national power grid for a period of three years from the date of their commissioning and when installing electricity storage systems with a capacity of at least 25% of the installed capacity of solar panels for ten years. In recent years, Uzbekistan has experienced increasing electricity shortages, especially in the cold winter months, as the country’s population grows and natural gas reserves are depleting. This has prompted the Uzbek government to embark on a large-scale program to introduce renewable energy sources (wind and solar power plants).

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USAID Launches New Project to Empower Communities in Uzbekistan

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched the Local Governance Activity in Uzbekistan, the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan has stated. Implemented by Chemonics International, the project will work closely with national government counterparts to improve the responsiveness and accountability of local governments, enhance citizen engagement, and promote a more inclusive and equitable decision-making processes. As a significant step towards strengthening collaboration and advancing local governance goals, the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan and USAID signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the project launch ceremony on December 14th. The MOU outlines the framework for collaboration between the two parties, focusing on enhancing the legal and regulatory environment for effective local governance, promoting citizen participation, and strengthening the capacity of local government institutions. “Empowering local communities to participate actively in governance is essential for building a more responsive and accountable government,” said USAID Mission Director in Uzbekistan, David Hoffman. “This activity will work to strengthen the voices of citizens, particularly women, youth, people with disabilities, and minority groups, ensuring that their needs are heard and addressed at a local level.” The Local Governance Activity will identify and address the diverse needs of various stakeholders, including citizens, entrepreneurs, marginalized populations, activists, influencers, media, and other government entities. Through this inclusive approach, the activity will ensure local governance reforms are tailored to the specific needs and realities of Uzbek communities. Additionally, it aims to strengthen collaboration with national counterparts, ensure that the project’s activities are aligned with the Uzbekistan Strategy 2030, and that outcomes are sustainable beyond the project’s lifespan. Through collaboration, innovation, technical expertise, and a focus on user-centered approaches, the Local Governance Activity will work to address the diverse needs of Uzbek communities and contribute to a more inclusive, responsive, and accountable government.

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Uzbekistan Plans to Manufacture One Million Cars a Year by 2030

Uzbekistan Plans to Manufacture One Million Cars a Year by 2030 The number of cars manufactured in Uzbekistan has grown threefold in recent years, with total annual production expected to reach 415,000 by the end of this year. This was said at a government meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on December 14th. In order to end the state monopoly and develop competition in the Uzbek automotive industry, three new private automakers and prestigious foreign brands have been attracted to Uzbekistan. Today, eight plants in the country manufacture dozens of types of cars, freight and passenger transport, and agricultural machinery. In addition, more than 2,000 enterprises in the industry closely cooperate with each other, and a 50% localization of component production is ensured. It was said at the meeting that by 2030, Uzbekistan plans to increase the annual production of passenger cars to a million. Today, the world's leading automakers are switching to the production of electric vehicles. If domestic enterprises are slow to develop in this direction, in the future they will face difficulties in occupying a worthy place in the market. Uzbekistan has already started the first projects in this direction. It is planned that next year a car plant capable of producing 10,000 electric vehicles a year will be launched in the country. The President pointed out the importance of special attention being paid to the production of electric vehicles, and ordered the production of components for them.

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Australian Company to Help Digitalize Gold Mining in Uzbekistan

Australian Company to Help Digitalize Gold Mining in Uzbekistan A meeting of the plant's management with a delegation from the Australian company, Micromine took place at the representative office of JSC NMMC in Tashkent. During the meeting, strategic aspects of the digital transformation of NMMC JSC aimed at improving the efficiency and competitiveness of the plant were discussed. Representatives of both sides noted the importance of integrating modern technologies into the company's current projects in order to optimize processes and increase productivity. During the meeting, the parties also discussed the prospects for further cooperation, especially in the context of the digital transformation of the enterprise. It is noted that the use of modern technologies and tools can significantly improve the efficiency of mining operations and reduce the cost of mining. Micromine is known for its digital solutions for mining, engineering, and the optimization of production processes. It has a wide range of products and services covering almost all mining processes, the report states.

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Hyundai Considering Construction of Nuclear Reactors in Uzbekistan

The South Korean company, Hyundai Engineering is considering the possibility of building small nuclear reactors (MMRs) in Uzbekistan in cooperation with the Korean Atomic Energy Institute (KAERI). The company has signed a memorandum of cooperation with KAERI on the export of said MMRs noting their economic efficiency in comparison with traditional nuclear power plants. According to the memorandum, KAERI will be responsible for the development of projects for future reactors and their licensing, whilst Hyundai will be responsible for business development, financing, procurement and construction, and installation work. KAERI has been developing modular reactors based on integrated systems (SMART) using cooling systems with high-pressure water and a capacity of 110 MW of energy since 1997. This model is ten times smaller than conventional nuclear power plants, meaning it can be built in remote and mountainous areas. In 2021, Hyundai Engineering signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of the Province of Alberta in Canada for the construction of a small modular reactor. A feasibility study for the project is currently being prepared. “After our project in Canada, where we celebrated the transition of electric generation to small modular reactors, we are considering expanding operations to Uzbekistan, the USA and India,” said a representative of the company.