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Plans for the development of the fuel and energy sector in the medium and long term were considered
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on the prospects for the development of the power industry and the improvement of project management mechanisms in the fuel and energy sector.
The development of the energy sector is one of the key factors ensuring economic growth, investment activity, and the well-being of the population.
In recent years, capital from the private sector and foreign investors has been actively attracted to the industry, major projects have been implemented to create new generating capacities, develop renewable energy sources, and modernize networks. As a result of the reforms, the total capacity of solar and wind power plants has exceeded 6.3 gigawatts. The number of hydroelectric power plants has exceeded 100, and their total capacity has approached 2.5 gigawatts. Due to the expanded use of renewable energy sources, a significant volume of natural gas is saved annually.
By 2030, the goal has been set to bring the country’s economy to 300 billion dollars, and the population is expected to exceed 41 million people. Electricity consumption in industry alone, according to forecasts, will grow from 38 to 53.5 billion kilowatt-hours by 2030. The development of electric transport and data centers will also create an additional burden on the power system.
In this regard, the need was noted to develop generating capacities ahead of the pace of demand growth, increase the throughput capacity of power grids, and form a sufficient volume of reserve capacities.
According to the plan, by 2030 the country’s generating capacities will be brought to 46.1 gigawatts and will create the possibility of annual generation of about 129 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. And by 2035, it is planned to increase capacity to 57.2 gigawatts, and annual electricity generation to 154.7 billion kilowatt-hours.
During the presentation, various scenarios for the growth of electricity consumption were considered.
According to calculations, with moderate growth in consumption until 2030, the necessary balance between generation volumes and demand will be maintained. However, with accelerated rates of development of the economy, industry, electric transport, and digital infrastructure, there will be a need for additional generating capacities.
The head of our state emphasized the need to formulate plans in the energy sector taking into account the high rates of economic growth and to always have a sufficient volume of reserve capacities available.
Based on this, proposals were considered for the construction of additional wind power plants and energy storage systems, as well as for accelerating the implementation of projects in the field of solar and wind energy.
At the same time, the need was noted to revise a number of projects with low economic efficiency, lacking specific sources of financing, or with delayed implementation timelines. The main criteria when selecting new generating capacities should be not only their capacity, but also the cost of the electricity generated, the possibility of connection to the grid, compatibility with energy storage systems, and the impact on the overall energy balance.
As the share of renewable energy sources increases, the importance of energy storage systems also grows.
Such systems make it possible to accumulate electricity generated during the day by solar and wind power plants and feed it into the grid during evening peak consumption hours. This reduces the need to burn additional gas at conventional power plants and increases the stability of the power system as a whole.
At present, 26 projects have been formed for the creation of energy storage systems with a total capacity of 4.2 gigawatts, 17 of which are at the implementation stage. It was proposed to form additional projects in this direction by 2030.
Along with increasing generating capacities, the President emphasized the need to build trunk networks and substations in advance to ensure the transmission of electricity to consumers.
By 2030, it is planned to build 9 new substations with a voltage of 220 kilovolts and 7 with a voltage of 500 kilovolts, as well as nearly 5 thousand kilometers of new power transmission lines. This will make it possible to connect new power plants to the power system and expand energy exchange between regions.
In particular, in 2027-2029, it is planned to commission a number of strategically important 500-kilovolt power transmission lines and new substations. During the presentation, the progress of their construction, financing issues, and measures to eliminate existing delays were separately considered.
The issue of creating new infrastructure for the digital economy using the great potential for the development of renewable energy sources in Karakalpakstan was also discussed.
It was proposed to connect the region’s promising wind power plants with data centers with a capacity of 1 gigawatt by building a new substation and 220-kilovolt power transmission lines for this purpose. This infrastructure will make it possible to integrate new data centers into the power system, attract high-tech investments, and efficiently use the region’s existing energy potential.
During the presentation, special attention was paid to proposals for fundamentally changing the system for the formation and implementation of investment projects in the industry.
In practice, in many cases, a project begins with an investor’s initiative. Issues of land allocation, grid connection, technical conditions, tariffs, and investment agreements are coordinated separately with various agencies. This leads to delays in processes, duplication of agency functions, as well as insufficient consideration of the power system’s needs in individual projects.
In this regard, a new management model was proposed.
From now on, energy projects will be formed primarily based on the prospective needs of the economy, the population, and the regions. First, demand is determined, after which the necessary generating capacities and infrastructure facilities are planned. The project is formed with a pre-determined land plot, grid connection point, and technical solutions, and the investor is selected on the basis of an open and competitive selection.
Tasks and areas of responsibility of each agency will also be clearly defined. The Ministry of Economy and Finance will form demand forecasts, the Ministry of Energy will be responsible for strategic planning and technical policy, and the Agency for the Development and Regulation of the Energy Market will regulate market relations and tariffs. Agencies responsible for the investment sphere will attract investors on the basis of an open competition, and local authorities will resolve issues related to land plots and the necessary infrastructure.
It was also proposed to form an accurate forecast of the need for energy resources by region and sector and, on this basis, adopt annually updated three-year investment plans. This will make it possible to plan in advance and in a coordinated manner the development of generating capacities, power grids, and the necessary infrastructure.
In the long term, it is planned to develop a concept for ensuring fuel and energy resources until 2050. It will comprehensively take into account the national resource potential, demographic and economic growth, improved energy efficiency, the development of renewable and nuclear energy, as well as issues of ensuring energy security. It is proposed to revise the concept every five years.
The head of our state emphasized that every new project in the energy sector must meet the long-term needs of the economy and the population, and that it is necessary to ensure a constant balance between production, grid load, and consumption.
Responsible officials were given instructions to ensure the timely launch of major projects being implemented, to take specific measures together with investors on projects with delayed implementation timelines, to ensure balanced development of generating capacities and power grids, to expand energy storage systems, and to introduce a new model of planning and management in the industry.
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