Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated that Karakalpakstan should become one of the largest regional centers for green energy production during a meeting on the socio-economic development of the republic held in Nukus.
Mirziyoyev noted that new energy facilities with a total capacity of 860 megawatts have been commissioned in Karakalpakstan in recent years. The construction of wind power plants in the districts of Beruni and Karauzyak has already raised the share of green energy in the region to 23%, and electricity generation has increased fourfold, reaching 5 billion 330 million kilowatt-hours, which is almost three times the annual demand of the republic's population and enterprises.
Furthermore, before the meeting, the construction of 47 new projects was initiated, including a wind power plant in Kungrad with a capacity of 1500 megawatts and a cost of 2.6 billion US dollars. This project involves the construction of 1500 kilometers of high-voltage transmission lines and three 500-kilovolt substations.
The President announced that by 2030, wind power plants with a total capacity of 3300 megawatts are planned to be commissioned in Karakalpakstan, which will allow the share of green energy to rise to 76%. Energy storage facilities with a capacity of 400 megawatts will also be created.
He emphasized that the republic possesses all the necessary resources to implement these plans, including land, mineral resources, solar and wind energy, as well as vast pastures. According to Mirziyoyev, these opportunities will form the basis for a new industrial and investment map of the region, based on the principle of transitioning 'from resources to finished products.'
Moreover, the Kungrad-Karauzyak-Takhytish direction should be transformed into a 'green industrial corridor,' which has been named the 'triangle of the smart economy' of Karakalpakstan. The President instructed responsible officials to develop a five-year regional energy development program by October 1st and ensure stable energy supply for investors with a capacity of 1 gigawatt.