The project is aimed at increasing sustainability of power system and decrease loss at transportation of electricity from center of the country in Samarkand to Bukhara energy knot and ensuring interrupted power supply of this region. The project will allow to increase energy saving and reliability of electricity supply of object and population of Samarkand, Bukhara and Kashkadarya regions.

The financing of the project with the cost of US$120 million could be financed due to the World Bank. The bank’s policy envisages strict requirements on protection of environment, Norodnoye Slovo reported.

In this connection, Uzbekenergo specialists paid special attention to ecology issues in preparation of feasibility study. In particular, the project organizations prepared “Assessment of impact to environment”, which was approved by the State Committee on Nature Protection.

During project implementation, the main impact to environment will be observed at construction phase as emission to atmosphere of polluting, dust and sound from transport. Major part of population will be connected with emissions from transport, dust on loading and unloading of materials, emissions at painting works.

The calculations showed that these emissions are not exceed quotes, allowed by the State Nature Protection Committee for polluting means of these class and enterprises, located in Samarkand and Kashkadarya regions. Noise and vibrations at construction period will be insignificant. It will be also temporary.

Uzbekenergo does not expect impact to water resources at construction or exploitation period.

At construction of substation and laying high voltage line, it is expected to seize lands for temporary or permanent use. The share of irrigated lands makes up fifth of all allocated lands. The reclaiming works will be conducted at lands, which will be seized for temporary use. Before construction works from territory of new object, it is planned to remove fruitful layer of soil and moved to temporary dumps. After completion of construction works, it is planned to conduct technical and biologic reclaiming of dislocated areas. Crushed stone and soil in dumps will be used to equal layers. The plants and sod grasses will be planted during land reclaiming.

All solid waste, formed during construction works, will be stored in special places and utilized in established order. It is expected that there will be no impact to soil resources. There could be liquid waste – used oil - at substation, which will be collected and processed for second use.

In line with the World Bank requirements, the great attention will be paid to migration routes of birds and potential risk for them from power supply lines.

Birds are intensively fly through Karshi steppe. They pass Karshi steppe to Kashkadarya and Zarafshan – from southern-western to northern-eastern. The birds move through steppe due to rich water resources, plants and insects.

Despite there is no direct evidences of existence of migrant birds on future route of high voltage line, Uzbekenergo and Institute of Zoology of Uzbekistan Science Academy conducted complex of scientific-research works directed at decreasing potential negative impact of the project to migrant birds.

The company will carry out monitoring of autumn and summer migration of birds in those areas, where the new high voltage line will be laid, to determine migration route of birds. This stage of works are planned for October-November 2010. The high-voltage line will be laid in line with international practice for decreasing risk of collision with birds. The company plans to monitor situation after construction as well.

The report said that the project will not impact environment both in construction stage and exploitation phase.