Uzbekistan is growing economically and demographically, and the need for energy resources is increasing yearly. In connection with this, the state uses all energy sources. In particular, much attention is paid to the development of hydropower. 19 new ones have been built in recent years, and 13 existing hydroelectric power stations have been modernized.
The most important of them is the Tupalang hydroelectric power station. After its commissioning in 2006, the hydroelectric power station had only two power units with a total capacity of 30 megawatts.
The Head of state visited the plant in April 2019 and gave instructions for the construction of two more hydraulic units. First, the height of the reservoir dam was raised by another 20 meters. As a result, capacity increased from 380 million to 500 million cubic meters. Construction and installation work was completed using modern technologies, and two units with a total capacity of 145 megawatts were installed.
Thus, the total capacity of the Tupalang hydroelectric power station reached 175 megawatts and became the second largest station in the country after the Charvak hydroelectric power plant.
The station gained the ability to generate an additional 467 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. Electricity supply has improved for about 167 thousand households. This means an average of 107 million cubic meters of natural gas are saved annually.
As part of the President’s visit to Surkhandarya in March this year, the project for further modernization of the Tupalang hydroelectric power plant was completed and put into operation. Today, the Head of state got acquainted with the work of the modernized energy facility.
A presentation of measures to increase hydropower potential based on the Tupalang River took place here. 20 promising projects for the construction of stations in the river’s upper reaches have been formed. Their total capacity, according to plans, will be 264 megawatts.
The Head of state noted the importance of expanding this work, building micro-hydroelectric power stations on every river and in every mahalla where such an opportunity exists.
Information was also presented on the prospects for coal mining in Surkhandarya region. It was noted that 82 million tons of coal reserves had been discovered in the region. Today, 541 thousand tons are mined. The need to increase production to 2 million tons and train specialists was emphasized.
