TASHKENT (TCA) — The government of Uzbekistan has approved a program of measures for advanced development of renewable energy and increase in the energy efficiency of the economy and social sector for 2017-2021, the Jahon information agency reported.
The document is aimed at meeting several key tasks. First of all, its implementation will allow diversifying fuel balance through renewable energy sources (RES), by replacing traditional fuels with RES and reducing the share of traditional fuels (coal and natural gas) in the production of electricity and heat. Another priority task for the near future is decreasing the energy intensity and resource intensity of the economy, and widespread introduction of energy-saving technologies into production.
In the framework of the program, Uzbekistan intends to implement 810 projects for a total of $5.3 billion by the end of 2025. They include the reduction of the energy intensity of production in basic sectors of the economy, where 25 largest Uzbek enterprises and organizations should reach record levels of reduction of specific energy consumption rates for industrial production.
Measures will be taken to introduce new technologies in social and agricultural sectors. In particular, in the next five years, it is planned to replace 17,251 heating boilers in 6,333 organizations of the Ministry of Public Education, Ministry of Health and Center for Secondary Specialized and Vocational Education. That would save more than 56.5 million cubic meters of natural gas.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources will replace 879 pumps and 1,523 electric engines in its water management organizations with up-to-date and energy efficient equipment.
As a result, Uzbekistan is expected to significantly increase electricity production by 2025 by bringing the share of renewable sources in the structure of generating capacities from the current 12.7% to 19.7%. The share of hydropower will increase from 12.7% to 15.8%, solar energy – to 2.3%, and wind power – to 1.6%.
It is also expected to achieve a drastic reduction in the energy intensity of production by 9.79 million tons of fuel equivalent, or annually by an average of no less than 8-10%.
