The issue was discussed on August 13 during a briefing for President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on fuel and energy resources, where officials reviewed measures to accelerate the project.
According to Khodjaev, an international tender selected Aksa Enerji as the winner to manage Samarkand region’s electricity distribution networks on the condition that the company invest in the infrastructure. He said this would be the first project of its kind in Uzbekistan involving the transfer of distribution networks to private-sector management with an investment requirement.
Under the project, Aksa Enerji will operate the existing electricity networks in Samarkand region and build new infrastructure. The company is expected to bring its experience from projects in Turkey and other countries.
All employees of Samarkand regional electricity networks will be retained by the Turkish company, according to the minister. Only 10–15 specialists are expected to come from abroad, while the rest of the workforce will be recruited locally.
Khodjaev said the president had instructed officials to apply the Samarkand model in other parts of the country as well.
The project also requires Aksa Enerji to source at least 90% of the products needed for network construction, reconstruction and modernization from Uzbekistan’s domestic market, including local manufacturers.
Privatization of regional electricity networks
Uzbekistan announced plans to begin transferring the management of regional electricity networks to the private sector in August 2024. Samarkand region was designated as the first location, followed by Jizzakh and Syrdarya regions.
Aksa Enerji was subsequently selected as the winner of an international tender to manage Samarkand’s distribution networks on the condition that it invest in the infrastructure. The company received the official notification confirming its victory in November 2025.
