Uzbekistan’s energy ministry yesterday signed an investment agreement for the construction of a $1.2bn gas powered thermal power plant in the Surkhandarya region, along with a power purchase agreement, with Dutch company Stone City Energy.
The deal, signed in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent (pictured) sees Stone City Energy design, finance, build, commission, operate and manage the plant for 25 years. Stone City Energy was formed as a special purpose company in 2019.
The project is expected to launch at the end of 2024.
The plant will have modern steam and gas units manufactured by Siemens Energy. In a press release, the ministry said this will save 1.1 billion cubic metres of natural gas a year.
Some 2,000 jobs will be created in the construction phase.
Following a survey which began in December 2020, a site for the plant has been allocated on 150 hectares of land, in the Angora district of the Surkhandarya region.
Uzbekistan’s Energy Minister, Mr. Alisher Sultanov, said: “The agreements signed with Stone City Energy are yet another example of Uzbekistan working with international partners for the benefit of the country. Due to the country’s economic growth, and the growing needs of the population, we need to fulfil future energy demand. We look forward to working closely with Stone City in the years to come.”
Image: Uzbek capital Tashkent at night (Guidecity/CC BY-SA 4.0)
