TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, June 20. Uzbekistan is advancing a strategic renewable energy project involving the construction of three small run-of-river hydropower plants (SHPPs) in the Shahrisabz district of Kashkadarya province, with a combined capacity of 25 megawatts (MW), Trend reports, citing the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Initiation of construction commenced on a constrained basis in
April 2025, with comprehensive finalization projected for September
2025. The project trajectory has secured formal endorsement from
the District Environmental Department, and the Ministry of
Environmental Protection has sanctioned construction operations
along the ratified corridor.
The trio of small hydropower plants—Rabat (6 MW), Chappasu (8 MW),
and Tamshush (10 MW)—in conjunction with an array of mini- and
microgenerators aggregating to 1 MW, were meticulously chosen based
on their technical feasibility and economic efficiency,
subsequently prioritized within Uzbekistan’s national investment
framework.
This initiative aims to increase the share of renewable energy in Uzbekistan’s power generation mix, enhance access to reliable electricity, and promote sustainable clean energy development in the region. In addition, the project seeks to strengthen institutional capacity by improving corporate sustainability, governance, and operational efficiency at JSC Uzbekhydroenergo (UzHydro), thereby supporting ongoing reforms in the country’s energy sector.
In June 2021, UzHydro appointed China National Electric Engineering as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor. The final design outlines a cascade of three SHPPs spanning 11,450 meters along the Aksu River. The EPC contractor is responsible for constructing two weirs at Rabat and Tamshush, the three hydropower plants, and 11,290 meters of water pipelines. Additionally, a 22-kilometer transmission line with a voltage capacity ranging from 35 kV to 110 kV will connect the SHPPs to the existing Gissarak hydropower plant substation.
The project aligns with the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) country strategy for Uzbekistan, which emphasizes energy efficiency and reliable power supply. It supports the government’s policy to modernize and diversify electricity generation through renewable energy sources. Recognizing the strategic significance of this public asset, the government has requested standalone sovereign lending for the project, which will be implemented under turnkey contracts.
