A long agreement on co-financing of Turakurgan thermal power station by JICA was signed in Tashkent on 10 November within the visit of the delegation of Japan led by Parliamentary Deputy Foreign Minister of Japan Kentaro Sonoura to Uzbekistan.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Uzbekistan Rustam Azimov and Vice-President of JICA Kae Yanagisawa signed the loan agreement.

The project envisages construction of a gas-fired power plant of high efficiency with total capacity of 900 megawatt in Turakurgan district of Namangan region. It is planned to construct two combined cycle power facilities with a capacity of 450 MW each.

Within the project on construction of Turakurgan thermal power station, the JICA provided a preferential long-term loan for 71.8 billion yens or US$704 million.

The loan is issued for 40 years, including 10 year grace period. The interest rate is set at 0.3% APR.

Construction of the plant will allow to produce 6.8 billion KWH of electricity, which will help to meet growing demand of Ferghana Valley in electricity, including to realize new projects in textile, food, pharmaceutical, construction materials, small and private businesses sector.

The project envisages use of advanced technologies of combined production of electricity with use of high technological steam-to-gas and gas turbine facilities, which will ensure coefficient of efficiency of the station at the level of 60% and decrease consumption of fuel twice compared to existing capacities.

Currently, JICA finances construction of two combined cycle power facilities with a total capacity of 900 MW at Talimarjanthermal power station in Kashkadarya region.The works on construction of the second combined cycle power facilities with a capacity of 450 MW started at Navoi thermal power stations. Preparation works on project on introduction of co-generation facility with the capacity of 108 MW at Tashkent Thermal Cental No 4 with participation of Japan is underway.

JICA also provided technical assistance to creation of the first regional educational center for training specialists on maintenance of steam-to-gas and gas turbine facilities in Tashkent.