Issues of implementation of investment policy and development of "green" energy in the new year were discussed

On January 2, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev got acquainted with a presentation on the work carried out in 2023 and measures planned for 2024 to implement investment policy and increase the share of renewable sources in the energy sector.

It was noted that by the end of last year, more than $ 22 billion of foreign investments were disbursed, which is 1.8 times more than the previous year.

Analyzing the work done, the Head of state stressed the importance of increasing the volume of foreign investments this year. At the same time, the main attention should be paid to electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, the construction materials industry, pharmaceuticals, textile and leather industries.

The importance of targeted work with large investors, strengthening economic diplomacy and the participation of diplomatic missions abroad in attracting investments was emphasized.

It is pointed out that there is a need for widespread use of special zones in the regions and the possibilities of industrial cooperation in the implementation of new investment projects to create value chains. The heads of industries and regions are obliged to work closely with industries in solving investment issues, strive to diversify the economy of the regions and create more new jobs.

The issues of effective use and timely disbursement of funds from international financial institutions were raised, and the need to prioritize these funds for social, infrastructure and water management projects was noted.

The need to intensify the attraction of grants this year was also emphasized, and the task was set to expand cooperation with foreign and international organizations in the field of ecology, environmental protection, healthcare, higher education, science and innovation.

The meeting also discussed issues of the development of “green” energy.

Currently, work continues in our country on 28 projects based on public-private partnerships for the construction of solar, wind and hybrid power plants with a total capacity of 6.3 gigawatts. Of these, the first capacities were launched in 2023 within the framework of 7 2.6 gigawatt projects.

In particular, at a ceremony with the participation of the head of state on December 27 last year, the capacities of five solar photovoltaic plants in Samarkand, Jizzakh, Surkhandarya, Bukhara and Kashkadarya regions, as well as a wind power plant in Navoi region, were connected to the network.

Currently, work is underway on 12 projects for the construction of “green” power plants and energy storage systems together with companies from countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, China, France and Switzerland.

At today's meeting, the tasks for the full completion in 2024 of the projects that began last year, plans for the creation of new green generation capacities for the coming years were considered.

In particular, in 2024 it is planned to increase the total capacity of the FES to 2.6 gigawatts, the WPP to 900 megawatts, and launch energy storage devices with a capacity of 400 megawatts.

In order to ensure the stable operation of the electric power system, taking into account the growth in the share of variable power generation capacities, the head of state instructed to develop a concept for the development of electric grids. The task is to identify measures to modernize existing networks, build new substations and transmission lines, introduce modern automated safety systems, digital control systems (SCADA/EMS), increase the share of backup capacities and energy storage systems.

The meeting touched upon the issues of increasing foreign direct investment in the energy sector.

In order to address and expand investment cooperation with key foreign partners who are major investors in the energy sector of our country, it was instructed to improve the activities of the Ministry of Energy in this direction.

The instruction was given to explore the possibility of introducing, based on international experience, agrovoltaics - the practice of installing solar panels by agricultural producers in their fields to produce energy for their own needs or for sale, as well as to make specific proposals to support this area.