Uzbekistan will establish an Investors’ Council for the fuel and energy sector, headed by Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of the Presidential Administration, to address investors’ concerns and accelerate energy projects, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced during an open dialogue with energy sector investors, according to the presidential press service.
The president noted that energy projects require substantial investment and complex infrastructure, while delays in land allocation, electricity grid connections and the issuance of technical specifications can hinder implementation.
Companies including Acwa, Vision Invest, DataVolt, Voltalia and EDF proposed establishing a mechanism for continuous dialogue to resolve such issues. In response, Mirziyoyev announced the creation of the council, which will work to find prompt solutions to problems investors encounter, from land allocation to the commissioning of energy facilities.
The meeting also addressed the training of qualified personnel for the energy sector. Saudi Arabia’s Acwa is equipping technical schools in Karakalpakstan, Bukhara and Syrdarya regions and training hundreds of young people annually in emerging energy-related fields.
Mirziyoyev called on other investors to help train specialists in line with international standards. Investors also expressed their readiness to take part in managing regional technical schools.
Starting from the next academic year, admission quotas for energy-related programmes at domestic higher education institutions will increase. In addition, the government will provide state grants for 50 young people annually to study at leading universities worldwide.
During the same meeting, the president also announced plans to transfer liquefied gas supply to the private sector across Uzbekistan by 2027. Around 3.8mn households currently use liquefied gas, and a pilot project involving private entrepreneurs has already been launched in the Andijan region.