By 2030, Uzbekistan will be able to export 10−15 billion kWh of electricity, deputy minister of energy Umid Mamadaminov said on 6 November in a interview with Spot during the European Economic Days in Uzbekistan.
“The demand for electricity [in Uzbekistan] is expected to reach about 120−125 billion kWh in 2030. We have numerous generation facilities — about 135 billion kWh in capacity. All surplus energy will be exported to Europe. Once the infrastructure is ready, electricity can be exported,” he noted.
This involves supplying electricity via a “cable corridor”, also known as the “green corridor”, to Europe. Starting in 2030, Uzbekistan plans to export its excess green electricity generated domestically to Europe through Azerbaijan. Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in July signed a protocol in Astana to establish the “Central Asia — Azerbaijan — Europe” green energy corridor. A memorandum on integrating energy systems was signed at an investment forum in Tashkent in spring.
In August, minister of energy Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov stated that the volume of electricity exports to Europe would “depend on cable capacity and partner demand”. The minister noted that Uzbekistan fully met its electricity demand and was thus ready to supply 2 to 5 GW of energy to Europe.
The feasibility study report (FSR) for the project is being conducted by the Italian company CESI.
“We selected CESI, which has already started work. Preparing the FSR will take about a year and a half, finishing by the end of 2025. After that, construction will begin based on the FSR The cable will be 2,500 km long and involve a very expensive HVDC (high-voltage direct current — ed.) line. The FSR will determine the cost, but it will exceed $2 billion,” Mamadaminov said.
When asked about the price of electricity exported to Europe, Mamadaminov responded that it would be market-based, with a minimum of 4−5 cents per kilowatt.
Umid Mamadaminov previously stated that the leaders of Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan would sign the “Central Asia — Azerbaijan — Europe” green energy corridor project during the COP29 (UN Climate Conference) held in Baku from 11 to 22 November.
During the European Economic Days, Mamadaminov also noted that Uzbekistan had achieved significant success in electricity generation but now needs infrastructure for storage and transportation.
“Infrastructure is critical for integrating intermittent energy sources like wind and solar, and many countries face this challenge. We need at least 5,000 km of transmission lines, including high-voltage lines at 500 kV and 200 kV, and substations,” deputy minister said.
To integrate renewable sources into the grid, backup capacity must be at least 80% of the renewables' output, he added.
“We have already signed agreements to install over 2,000 MW of energy storage systems with a total storage capacity of more than 400 MWh, as each represents a dual-cycle network. Over the next two years, we will have at least 4,000 MW of baseline capacity. This will greatly assist in quickly responding to fluctuations in solar electricity production,” deputy minister said.
Uzbekistan will balance its energy system through a single electricity trading platform that will be developed in the coming years. “Neighboring countries, such as Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, have substantial hydroelectric resources, which pair well with our intermittent renewable generation,” Mamadaminov noted.
