TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, June 17. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has extended a sovereign loan of up to $250 million to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Water Resources to support the modernization of 110 pumping stations across the country, a source at the EBRD told Trend.
“These stations, which serve irrigation systems in 10 regions of Uzbekistan, will be equipped with modern, energy-efficient pumps designed to reduce electricity consumption by approximately 251,000 MWh per year. The upgrades are also expected to cut annual CO₂ equivalent emissions by more than 117,000 tonnes,” the representative said.
Along with swapping out old gear, the EBRD’s funding will go towards sprucing up related infrastructure and putting rooftop solar panels on the pumping stations, fitting neatly into the country’s larger game plan to boost energy efficiency and weave in renewable energy sources.
“This initiative builds on the EBRD’s ongoing work in Uzbekistan’s water sector. In 2023, the Bank provided a sovereign loan of up to $199.96 million to modernize 118 obsolete pumping stations in the Uzbek part of the Fergana Valley. That project included the installation of modern, energy-efficient units and the rehabilitation of aging infrastructure dating back to the Soviet era,” the source added.
The EBRD’s ongoing engagement in the modernization of irrigation systems highlights its strategic dedication to enhancing water efficiency, promoting green infrastructure, and facilitating sustainable agricultural advancement throughout Uzbekistan.
