Eighteen new energy facilities have been commissioned, and construction has begun on an additional six power plants.

These projects are part of a large-scale initiative aimed at strengthening the potential of the country's energy system. Last December, five solar power plants and one wind power plant were commissioned. During the President's visits to the regions, numerous new projects were launched.

Today, 24 projects with a total value of over 7 billion dollars were launched. Specifically, five solar and wind power plants with a total capacity of about 2,300 megawatts have been connected to the grid in the Bukhara, Navoi, Namangan, and Tashkent regions, along with five high-voltage substations.

For the first time in Uzbekistan, a 300-megawatt energy storage system has been established in Andijan and Fergana. A 400-megawatt power plant has been commissioned in Kashkadarya, and a modern cogeneration unit has been launched in Tashkent, along with four small hydropower plants in Andijan, Surkhandarya, and the Tashkent region.

Additionally, the construction of six energy facilities with a total capacity of 2.5 gigawatts has begun in the Fergana, Samarkand, Navoi, Tashkent regions, and the city of Tashkent.

These new projects will enable the additional production of 9.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in the coming years, save 2.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas, and prevent the emission of 4.6 million tons of harmful gases.

Most importantly, over 4 million households will be provided with uninterrupted and environmentally friendly energy.

This will also create conditions for generating an added value of 4 billion dollars in other sectors of the economy.

Overall, in 2025, our country is projected to produce 84 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, which is an increase of 25 billion kilowatt-hours or 1.5 times compared to 2016.

During the ceremony, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized that all these projects are being implemented with direct foreign investments. Gratitude was expressed to companies from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, China, and Germany, as well as international institutions such as the Asian Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the World Bank for their fruitful cooperation.

Thanks to the open access for the private sector, approximately 20 billion dollars in direct foreign investments have been attracted to Uzbekistan's energy sector over the past five years.

In a sector previously dominated by the state, 24 independent power producers have started operations.

In particular, large solar and wind power plants with a total capacity of 3,500 megawatts have been launched in the "green energy" sector, equivalent to 10 billion kilowatt-hours. This has increased the share of "green energy" in the energy system to 16 percent.

As is known, last year the country's GDP reached a historic level of 100 billion dollars for the first time. By 2030, Uzbekistan's economy is expected to grow to 200 billion dollars.

This will increase the demand for electricity by 1.5 times over the next five years. Additionally, under the Paris Agreement, it is planned to reduce harmful gas emissions by 35 percent by 2030.

The President outlined priority areas for work in the energy sector.

Firstly, by 2030, additional "green capacities" of 19,000 megawatts will be built, increasing the share of renewable energy to 54 percent. By 2025, it is planned to commission 18 solar and wind stations with a capacity of 3,400 megawatts, as well as energy storage systems with a capacity of 1,800 megawatts. This will increase the production of "green energy" to 12 billion kilowatt-hours next year. Over the next two years, a large-scale program will be implemented in collaboration with private partners to establish more than 2,000 small and micro hydropower plants.

Secondly, the liberalization of the electricity market will continue. By the end of next year, a competitive wholesale electricity market is expected to be created. Public-private partnerships will also be implemented in the energy distribution sector, attracting 4 billion dollars in investments for network modernization. In the Samarkand region, the first project for transferring the management of regional electrical networks to the private sector has been developed, and an international tender has been announced.

Thirdly, the expansion of international cooperation in "green energy." Agreements have been signed with Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Saudi Arabia for the joint export of "green energy" to Europe within the framework of COP-29. A unified platform has been launched with neighboring countries to ensure the stability of the regional energy system.

Fourthly, the development of "green energy" will serve as a new driver for other sectors of the economy and improve the living standards of the population.

Solar panels with a total capacity of 1,000 megawatts have already been installed, enabling the annual production of 1.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. Support for "green" initiatives will continue with the implementation of dual training programs for specialist preparation.

– Today's event opens a new chapter in the history of our country's energy sector. These projects will ensure not only economic growth but also create an environmentally friendly and sustainable future for our descendants, – said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

At the ceremony, the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates, Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkey, Alparslan Bayraktar, and the Minister of Energy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, delivered speeches.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, by pressing a symbolic switch, launched the operation of 18 energy facilities and the construction of six new projects.