Uzbekhydroenergo 7MW SHP plant to be financed by EBRD
The provision of a US$ 25 mm sovereign loan to the Republic of Uzbekistan to finance the rehabilitation of the existing 7.0 MW hydropower plant of JSC "Uzbekhydroenergo" located in the Tashkent region on the Chirchik River at Nizhne-Bozsuy HPP Cascade (HPP-18) in close proximity to the Gagarin town. The Project is a sub-project under the Uzbekistan Climate Resilience Framework ("UCRF").
Project Objectives
The Project's objective is to contribute to the strategic investment program for the development of the hydropower sector of Uzbekistan via rehabilitation of current HPPs, which will play a crucial role in decarbonisation and climate resilience efforts of the power sector of Uzbekistan.
Transition Impact
The project is expected to contribute to (i) the Green Transition Impact ("TI") quality, through delivering climate mitigation benefits. The Project will extend the lifetime of the HPP, allowing it to continue to deliver low-carbon electricity to the system. The project also contributes to (ii) the Resilient TI Quality through addressing the supply gap in the electricity sector of Uzbekistan.
UZBEKISTAN SOVEREIGN The Project implementing entity will be JSC "Uzbekhydroenergo", a 100 per cent state-owned jointstock company operating all hydropower generation assets (37 HPPs) in Uzbekistan.
EBRD Finance Summary, USD 25,000,000.00, Total Project Cost, USD 25,000,000.00
Environmental and Social Summary
The Project has been Categorised B in accordance with the EBRD's 2014 ESP. Environmental and Social (E&S) due diligence of the Project has been undertaken by EBRD with the support of an independent consultant in parallel with the corporate due diligence to be completed as part of the Framework.
The key E&S impacts/risks associated with the Project were assessed during ESDD which included the potential for changes in HPP operating regime, which may subsequently have E&S impacts over and above those associated with the existing asset such as transboundary water agreements, biodiversity or social impacts. However, ESDD has confirmed that the implementation of the Project will not have any potential impacts on transboundary water resources agreements or result in social resource use conflicts and that the Project is located in areas of low environmental sensitivity.