TASHKENT, Uzbekistan – The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) agreed to finance the modernization scheme of Uzbekistan's two hydropower plants in the Tashkent region. IDB recently signed an agreement with the Uzbek government to this effect during the Tashkent meeting of the Arab Coordination Group (ACG), which was attended by members of the Uzbek government and representatives of the financial and business sectors, Trend News Agency reported Wednesday. The ACG includes the Islamic Development Bank, the Saudi Fund for Development and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the OPEC Fund for International Development and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development. The IDB loan will be used to modernize and increase the capacity of the Farkhad hydropower station and Bozsu HPP Cascade (HPP-14) The modernization program involves replacing power generators and turbines, as well as electrical equipment and communication systems. Implementation of the project will increase the generating capacity of the two hydropower plants by 30 MW in total. The project will be implemented in the 2012 - 2015 period. Besides IDB funds, the project worth $165.7 million will be financed through Uzbekenergo's funds and the state budget. At present, the Uzbekistan power system has 45 power plants with a total capacity of more than 12,400 MW, including a total of 16 Uzbekenergo - 12,040 MW power stations. Farkhad HPP and five cascades of hydropower plants, located in Tashkent region with installed capacity 1973 MW, are among the Uzbekenergo enterprises, producing hydropower. The rest of the electricity is generated by autonomous thermal power stations belonging to industrial enterprises and small hydroelectric power stations belonging to the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources. In 2011, electricity production in Uzbekistan increased by 1.3 percent up to 52.416 billion kilowatt hours compared to 2010. – SG/Agencies
