Tashkent, Uzbekistan – The European Union funded “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)” project has submitted a comprehensive package of regulatory and methodological documents to key government bodies of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This package is intended to lay the groundwork for the development of a modern energy services market in the country.

The documents were developed at the request of the Agency for Strategic Reforms under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, SECCA’s main partner in the country. The prepared regulatory and methodological materials reflect the government’s policy priorities in the field of energy efficiency and the creation of favorable conditions for the growth of Uzbekistan’s energy services market. This highlights the state’s strong interest in establishing an effective energy-saving system through energy service contract mechanisms.

The submitted document package includes three interrelated components:

1. Regulation on the Provision of Energy Services establishes a clear legal framework for the operation of Energy Service Companies (ESCOs), including:
   • A two-stage project implementation mechanism: from energy audit to the deployment of energy-saving measures
   • Principles of financing projects without capital expenditures from the client
   • Mechanisms to guarantee the achievement of declared energy savings.
2. Energy Efficiency Measurement and Verification Methodology represents an adaptation of the international IPMVP (International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol) to Uzbekistan’s conditions and includes:
   • Four methods of determining energy savings, each with different levels of accuracy and cost
   • Consideration of climate features and production cycles
   • Practical examples for industrial facilities, public institutions, and street lighting systems.
3. Standard Energy Service Contract provides:
   • Clear allocation of responsibilities and risks between the ESCO and the client
   • Mechanisms for financial guarantees and insurance
   • Procedures for independent verification of achieved results.

“The submitted documents consolidate the best international practices in energy services, adapted to Uzbekistan’s legislation and economic context,” noted Paata Janelidze, SECCA Team Leader. “Particular attention has been paid to creating transparent operational mechanisms, which is critical for attracting private investment in energy efficiency.”

Implementation of the proposed regulatory framework will:

• Attract private investment into the modernization of energy infrastructure without burdening the state budget
• Create a new market segment with potential worth hundreds of millions of dollars
• Reduce the energy intensity of the economy in line with national goals
• Generate thousands of highly skilled jobs.

The SECCA project has expressed its readiness to continue providing technical support during the documents review stage, including conducting training seminars for government officials and potential market participants.

According to Presidential Decree No. UP-63 dated 27 March 2025, the new Regulation on the Procedure for Providing Energy Services must be approved by 1 July 2025, making the submitted documents especially timely.