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USAID supports energy sector of Uzbekistan

1 March 2019 14:00 (UTC+04:00)
USAID supports energy sector of Uzbekistan

By Abdul Kerimkhanov

Uzbekistan is an important partner of the United States in ensuring stability, prosperity and security in the region of Central Asia. The U.S. provides security assistance to Uzbekistan to advance these goals.

The Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate to support the energy sector of Uzbekistan in Tashkent on February 27, 2019.

Uzbek Minister of Energy Alisher Sultanov and Deputy Assistant Administrator of USAID Javier Piedra signed the document, according to the press service of the Ministry of Energy.

According to the memorandum, the partnership of the parties is aimed at implementing projects to improve energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy and Uzbekistan’s participation in the Central Asian energy market.

An example of successful investment cooperation between the two countries are jointly implemented projects, such as “Energy of the Future”, “Energy Connections”, “Regional Electricity Market in Central Asia”, which is relevant today, working to create a unified electricity network in the region, a single market energy resources.

In recent years, Uzbekistan has been actively involved in the development of the regional electricity market in Central Asia. The country is successfully importing electricity from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, as well as exporting electricity to Afghanistan. A project is being completed aimed at ensuring the parallel operation of the power systems of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Piedra noted that the work under CAREM (Central Argentina de Elementos Modulares) is designed to ensure conditions of access to a reliable and affordable source of electricity for Central Asia countries, and in particular, Uzbekistan.

He noted that within its framework, USAID also plans to introduce the necessary measures and carry out activities that will attract investments in Uzbekistan.

‘‘In this joint work, we will focus on clean energy, job creation, and the sustainable development of the energy system for the Uzbek people. This will lead to an efficient distribution of energy and also, to a large extent, to the solution of environmental issues, to which we also pay special attention,” concluded Piedra.

The signed Memorandum will be the beginning of close cooperation in the implementation of the CAREM project - the “Central Asian Regional Electricity Market”, aimed at supporting five countries of the region in creating a new, economically viable, integrated electric power market.

Uzbekistan plays a pivotal role in developing an independent, stable, prosperous and democratic Central Asia that helps ensure regional and global security. As Central Asia’s most populous country, with extensive natural resources and transportation links, Uzbekistan is a potential force for regional economic growth and stability.

USAID helps Uzbekistan diversify its economy and increase regional trade, address serious health threats and encourage the government to be more responsive to its people’s needs.

As part of the USAID Mission to Central Asia, USAID in Uzbekistan advances the U.S. Government’s New Silk Road initiative, which increases regional connections among the economies and peoples of Central and South Asia, including Afghanistan - to foster greater regional stability and prosperity.

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Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz

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