President Mirziyoyev inaugurates locally built Hisorak mini hydropower plant

The Hisorak Reservoir was originally constructed in 1987 and underwent a major reconstruction in 2004. In the same area, the main Hisorak Hydropower Plant with a capacity of 45 MW has been in operation since 2011, generating 80 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually – enough to meet the yearly electricity needs of around 33,000 households.

A new small hydropower plant with a capacity of 3.5 MW, capable of producing 17.5 million kilowatt-hours per year, has been fully constructed using local resources and expertise. The project cost $1.5 million. The plant is expected to save 5 million cubic meters of natural gas annually and supply electricity to approximately 7,300 households.

The President was also briefed on future plans to harness river water for energy production.

One of the most important upcoming initiatives is the construction of 416 micro hydropower stations equipped with kinetic turbines over the next two years. These micro plants, with a total capacity of 12 MW, are designed to generate energy from water flows in canals and irrigation ditches.

Currently, the region operates three hydropower stations with a combined capacity of 49 MW. With upcoming projects, this figure is expected to increase significantly. The broader goal is to meet 15% of the region’s electricity consumption through hydropower.

Over the past eight years, Uzbekistan’s total electricity production has increased by 38%, reaching 81.5 billion kWh. This year, five new small hydropower plants with a total capacity of 24.7 MW are planned to be commissioned across the country.