Uzvodenergo (Uzbekistan Water Energy) Specialised Association (a division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management) has launched the construction of Andijan and Ahangaran Small Hydroelectric Power Stations.

The budget of two construction projects totals approximately US$16.9 million, Interfax quoted a source in the Association’s management.

The source said it was planned to appropriate about US$3.7 million this year. Construction is scheduled to be completed by the late 2008.

All works are currently running in accordance with the project plan. The China National Electric Equipment Corporation (CNEEC) has already started the installation of equipment for the energy blocks of the stations.

Early this year, CNEEC signed a contract with the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management of Uzbekistan for the construction of Andijan and Ahangaran small hydroelectric power stations. The contract envisages the delivery of equipment and chief-assembly of two energy blocks with the capacity of 50MW for the Andijan station, and with the capacity of 21 MW for the Ahangaran station, as well as the training of the personnel.

The construction is funded through the US$15.93 million loan of the China Eximbank, provided under the guarantee of the Uzbek government, and UzbekEnergo’s own funds.

It is planned that Andijan station will produce 171.1 million KW/h of electric energy yearly, and Ahangaran station – 66.5 million KW/h.

In line with the small hydroelectric energy development programme, Uzbekistan plans to build 41 small stations with the total capacity of over 1,180 MW by 2010. The total budget of the programme totals some US$250 million.

Currently, about 48 billion KW/h of electric energy is produced in Uzbekistan yearly. The share of hydroelectric power in this makes up only about 10%.