- Uzbekistan strengthens energy ties with Turkiye, moving toward green energy projects.
- Turkish firms launched the first power-sector PPP and supported key reforms.
- Partnership now targets regional integration and increased Turkish investment.
Uzbekistan is making substantial progress in its energy alliance with Turkiye, with cooperation growing from essential infrastructure projects to extensive regional green energy programs. The Energy Minister of the Central Asian nation, Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, highlighted that Turkish firms were the pioneers in supporting Uzbekistan's reform initiatives, especially in implementing its first public-private partnership (PPP) models.
Following a recent gathering of the Organization of Turkic States in Istanbul, Minister Mirzamakhmudov acknowledged Turkiye for offering essential early assistance. "Turkiye and Turkish companies were the first to support us in those reforms," he stated, highlighting their contribution to the creation of Uzbekistan's initial PPP in electricity distribution within the Samarkand area.
This collaboration has since expanded, with Turkish companies now working as contractors in power generation, distribution, and even district heating systems in Tashkent, the capital. The partnership has now progressed into a pivotal stage centered on integrating regional energy. A major project is the "green corridor" initiative involving Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan to transmit renewable electricity, with Kyrgyzstan also showing interest and discussions ongoing with Turkiye.
"We're going from a regional-centered approach to inter-regional cooperation," the Minister stated, recognizing this as one of the most crucial collaborations with Turkiye. Concrete actions involve establishing working groups for feasibility studies and capacity evaluation.
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Mirzamakhmudov issued a distinct call for increased Turkish investment in Uzbekistan's energy and mining industries, highlighting the existing incentives and a mutually beneficial strategy. The aim is to transition from construction initiatives to collaborative production and value-added manufacturing, encompassing a range from electrical components to creating a complete regional mining center. "We are open, and we welcome Turkish investors," he stated, highlighting the robust political determination fueling the expedited collaboration between Tashkent and Ankara.