Tashkent, Uzbekistan – More than 100 stakeholders, energy policymakers, representatives of academia and civil society from the Republic of Uzbekistan, the European Union (EU) and its Member States, as well as international financial institutions gathered at the International Conference “Energy Efficiency in Uzbekistan: prospects and challenges” (Conference).
The Conference was organised jointly by the Agency for Strategic Reforms (ASR) under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the EU-funded SECCA project as part of the European Union – Uzbekistan Sustainable Energy Days 2023. It aimed at providing an action-oriented forum for decision-makers to share experiences in the implementation of energy efficiency policies in practice.
Energy efficiency has many economic, social and environmental benefits. It is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to combat climate change and reduce harmful to human health and quality of life emissions and pollutants. Improved energy efficiency will also lower utility bills for people, businesses, and industry, and provide new job and economic opportunities for the population.
Current subsidised energy tariffs in Uzbekistan do not encourage residential and industrial consumers to improve energy efficiency, even though it would make economic sense (IEA, 2022). Nevertheless, the energy sector transformation included in the Uzbek government’s structural and institutional reform package, introduced by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, is encouraging. Currently, the government is revising policies and implementation mechanisms to promote end-use energy efficiency. Therefore, now is the right time to discuss with key national stakeholders, international donors, and partners the way forward.
Addressing the participants of the Conference, H.E. Ms Charlotte Adriaen, EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan, stated: “To meet the Paris Agreement targets, energy efficiency needs to be prioritised. By using energy more efficiently and consuming less, we can considerably help protect the environment, mitigate negative effects of climate change and enhance energy security. Uzbekistan is implementing a wide-range energy sector reform to promote energy efficiency and scale up clean and renewable energy. The EU welcomes Uzbekistan’s commitments and achievements in transition to sustainable energy and applauds the Uzbek government and Uzbek people for the progress with reforming the energy sector made so far. We encourage Uzbekistan to continue its endeavours on paving the way to green transition.”
In turn, Mr Shukhrat Vafayev, Director General of the Agency for Strategic Reforms under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, noted: “Several important documents have been adopted: in 2019 we adopted the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On the use of renewable energy sources” and “On public-private partnership”, in 2020 the Law “On the rational use of energy” in a new version. We also ratified the Paris Agreement and adopted several Government Resolutions regulating work in this area. Our goal is to increase energy efficiency throughout the country by 20% by 2026 and 1.5 times by 2030. We also aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2026 and to ensure that 14 GW of new renewable energy facilities are put into operation by 2030. The experience of the European Union in the field of energy efficiency is a striking example, which we can apply in Uzbekistan”.
During the Conference, the participants discussed overall policy and legal framework for the promotion of end-use energy efficiency, data collection on energy consumption, energy audits in industry, energy efficiency in residential and public buildings, and other topics, and agreed to work together to develop and implement sustainable energy policies and projects in Uzbekistan.
Background: The EU-funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)” (from March 2022 to March 2026) aims to promote a sustainable energy mix in the Central Asia region in line with EU best practices. To fulfil its mission, SECCA strives to provide for strengthened and more inclusive policy, regulatory and institutional framework for the transition to a sustainable energy system, within a regional context, and focuses on contributing to the fulfilment of international human rights commitments in CA countries, including equal access to energy, and supporting gender inclusive policies and legislation for energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE). The project activities include capacity development for EE and RE deployment, awareness raising on EE and RE, and improving investment climate for EE and RE projects.
The EU – Uzbekistan Sustainable Energy Days is part of the broader EU – Central Asia Sustainable Energy Days campaign. Its purpose is to enhance the awareness of all national stakeholder groups and the broader public in the region on the significance, benefits and accessibility of sustainable energy.
For additional information, please contact Mrs Yelena Serebrennikova, Communication strategist, SECCA, email: media@secca.eu, WhatsApp: +77019814020, Mrs Nurgul Smagulova-Dulic, Digital Communication Expert, SECCA, email: nurgul.smagulova@secca.eu, WhatsApp: +77012066760, or the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan: delegation-uzbekistan@eeas.europa.eu.
