Uzbekistan state-owned utility operator Uzbekenergo plans to attract a total of US$300 million (212.5 million euro) for the realisation of four upgrade and infrastructure development projects, to be carried out in the period 2008 to 2010, state utility Uzbekenergo’s head Batyr Teshabaev on 5 October 2007.

The projects include the introduction of a new set of transformers with a capacity of 501 MVA at 500 kV transmitting station Surkhan in the southern part of the country, as well as the construction of a 240 km 500 kV power transmission line between Guzar and Surkhan, planned to cost some US$93 million (65.9 million euro). Another high-voltage transmission line is planned to be build between distribution station Sogdiana and Talimardzhan thermal power plant (TPP). It will be 216 km long and will cost US$95 million (67.3 million euro).

The bulk of the funding for these projects, US$145 million (102.7 million euro) will be provided as credit by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB).

In July 2007 Uzbekenergo announced it will hold a tender for selecting a contractor for the third project, the reconstruction of Tashkent TPP, planned to be carried out in the second half of 2009. The tender will be held by the end of 2007. The company is currently selecting sponsors for this project.

There are 42 operating power stations in Uzbekistan, including 11 TPPs with total capacity of 9.87 MW and 31 hydropower plants with combined capacity of 1.7 MW. The maximum annual electricity output is seen at between 56 and 57 billion kWh.