Canadian company to invest $1.3 billion to build solar power plant in Uzbekistan
TASHKENT (TCA) — Toronto-based SkyPower, the global leader in sustainability and utility-scale solar production, has announced an estimated $1.3 billion foreign direct investment in Uzbekistan to build 1,000 MW of solar energy generation capacity throughout the country. This project will bring the largest foreign direct investment in Uzbekistan’s history, the Canadian company said. Uzbekistan and SkyPower also signed the first Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in the country’s history, whereby the government will be purchasing power from an international and private company. Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a decree signifying the government’s full support of the project and sovereign guarantees. SkyPower will be the first independent power producer in the history of Uzbekistan, working closely with state-owned utility company Uzbekenergo. This project is also the first public-private partnership between Uzbekistan and a North American company. François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade for the Government of Canada, remarked, “Growing Canada’s cleantech and renewable sectors and encouraging the export of locally developed ideas and solutions that benefit the world is a priority for our government. I am pleased to see industry leaders like SkyPower Global help us towards that goal. This historic partnership with UzbekEnergo and the government of Uzbekistan will bolster growth in the region and help establish Canadian expertise in this fast-growing sector.” SkyPower Chief Executive Officer Kerry Adler said that, “This is a historic partnership that will benefit both the Government of Uzbekistan and SkyPower, and we are happy to be building Uzbekistan’s first solar power installation. President Mirziyoyev’s forward-thinking vision for Uzbekistan, along with the commitment of the Deputy Prime Ministers and the leadership of the National Project Management Office in concert with Uzbekenergo leadership, together have really helped move this project forward. Uzbekistan is a country that holds tremendous opportunities for foreign investors under the vision for growth and expansion of President Mirziyoyev.” The project will contribute an estimated $2.9 billion to Uzbekistan’s gross domestic product and create thousands of jobs. This will ultimately bring Uzbekistan to about 10 percent of its total renewable generation capacity, helping Uzbekistan reach its 2030 Paris Climate commitments while bringing power to the people of Uzbekistan.
