Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Uzbekenergo state joint stock company will install over 1.2 million electronic electricity meters by 2016 in Tashkent city, Tashkent region and Syrdarya regions of Uzbekistan, which are the most power-consuming regions on number of population and the volume of electricity consumption. The project with total cost of 64.8 billion soums was included to the programme on construction works of Uzbekistan for 2013.

Modern electronic electricity meters with introduction of automatic system on controlling and accounting of electricity will be also installed in Bukhara, Jizzakh and Samarkand regions of Uzbekistan in following three years. According to Uzbekenergo, the effect of energy saving from project with the cost of 122 billion soums will make up 19.59 billion KWH electricity.

An international seminar in Tashkent “Programme on introduction of automated system of controlling and accounting consumption of electricity in Uzbekistan and international experience”, which was organized at the support of World Bank in 2012, it was said that decreasing of energy-consumption and introduction of modern energy saving system are priorities. The reserve of energy efficiency of Uzbekistan was rated at the level of 20% from 51 billion KWH of electricity, produced in Uzbekistan.

It was underlined that energy company implemented several pilot projects on energy saving. Modern experience was spread among 53,000 subscribers in Tashkent city. The system on automated controlling and accounting of electricity is based on modern multifunctional electricity meters.

Introduction of automated system on controlling and accounting of electricity helped to increase the volume of accounted electricity by 29%.

According to Uzbekenergo, high efficiency is achieved due to accuracy and sensitivity of electricity meters, preventing unsanctioned use and consumption of electricity without payment.

Currently, the Government of Uzbekistan and Uzbekenergo are integrating accrued experience among 4.5 million consumers of Uzbekistan in all regions of Uzbekistan.

In line with the priorities on development of industry for 2011-2015, Uzbekistan attracted loans of the Asian Development Bank and World Bank to introduce automated system on controlling and accounting of electricity. The government is planning to attract loan of Islamic Development Bank.

The Government of Uzbekistan and Uzbekenergo received co-financing from the ADB for US$150 million to implement the programme in Samarkand, Bukhara and Jizzakh regions of Uzbekistan. On 27 March 2012, Board of executive directors of World Bank approved allocation of US$180 million to implementation of the automated system on controlling and accounting of electricity in Tashkent city, Tashkent and Syrdarya regions.

As it was stated at the conference, the ADB will finance the second phase of the project on energy saving, which will cover population of three regions of Ferghana Valleys and Kashkadarya region with estimated cost of US$240 million.

Loans of the Islamic Development Bank (estimated at US$120 million) will be used to introduction of the automated system on controlling and accounting of electricity in Karakalpakstan, Navoi, Surkhandarya and Khorezm regions.

Implementation of wide-scale program on introduction of automated system on controlling and accounting of electricity with total cost of US$800 million will help to ensure effective use of electricity in Uzbekistan and to stimulate saving of energy resources.