Russia to take part in the development of projects for the construction of two large hydropower plants in Uzbekistan

Russia will take part in the development of a feasibility study for the construction of the “Mullalak” and “Verkhnepsemsk” hydroelectric power stations on the Pskem River in Uzbekistan.

This became known following the talks between Chairman of the Board, General Director of PJSC RusHydro Nikolai Shulginov and Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Minister of Finance Jamshid Kuchkarov.

“The main topic of the meeting was the development of cooperation and collaboration between RusHydro and Uzbekistan in the field of hydropower. During this meeting, the parties discussed the current state of cooperation, as well as prospects for expanding joint activities in the design, construction of new and reconstruction of existing hydropower plants in Uzbekistan,” the Russian company noted.

The parties confirmed their intentions to adhere to the previously reached agreements, including the creation of a joint group between the “Institute of Hydroproject” JSC (institute of the RusHydro Group) and “Hydroproject” JSC (Uzbekhydroenergy company), as well as concluding an agreement between the organizations on the feasibility study of the project “Construction of the Mullalak Hydropower Plant (240 MW)”.

Members of the Uzbek delegation informed the management of RusHydro about the current state and plans for the development of the country’s power industry. In particular, the Uzbek colleagues noted that in the country’s energy balance, hydropower generation is only 13%, and Uzbekistan sees expedient further development and modernization of hydropower, both within the country and through the implementation of import-oriented projects in water-rich neighboring countries.

Nikolai Shulginov noted that the companies of the RusHydro Group have been in close contact with their Uzbek colleagues for more than a year and are ready to implement mutually beneficial projects in the field of research and development works and the design of hydroelectric power plants as well as hydraulic structures.

In November 2017, PJSC RusHydro and JSC Uzbekhydroenergy signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation in the field of hydropower, and JSC Lengidroproject signed an agreement on the implementation of certain types of work and the provision of consulting services in the development of a feasibility study for an investment project for the construction of “Pskem” HPP (404 MW) on the Pskem River in the Tashkent region.

During the first Forum of interregional cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan, with the participation of the heads of state, an agreement of mutual understanding and cooperation in the field of hydropower was signed between PJSC RusHydro and JSC Uzbekhydroenergy.

The key point of the agreement is the creation of a working group on the basis of design institutes, which in the first quarter of 2019 will begin the development of a feasibility study for the construction of the 240 MW “Mullalak” HPP and the 200 MW “Verkhnepskemsk” HPP on the Pskem River in Uzbekistan.

Following the negotiations, the parties confirmed their readiness for mutually beneficial cooperation and agreed to expand the list of projects for which subsequent negotiations and pre-project elaboration will be conducted.