Uzbekistan Accelerates 3.5 GW Renewable Projects with Japanese and Saudi Partners

Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khojaev held talks with Hajime Mori, Managing Executive Director of Japan's Sumitomo Corporation, and Abid Malik, President for Central Asia at Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power. The meeting focused on advancing major joint renewable energy initiatives.

The discussions centered on the implementation progress of projects stemming from an agreement signed in August 2024. Under that deal, ACWA Power (with a 51% stake) and Sumitomo Corporation (49%) committed to jointly develop renewable energy facilities with a total capacity of 3.5 gigawatts (GW). The total investment volume for these projects is estimated at $4.2 billion.

Current construction is underway on two solar power plants equipped with energy storage systems in the Samarkand region. This follows a separate October 2025 agreement involving Japan's Shikoku Electric Power and Chubu Electric Power to acquire stakes in energy projects in that area.

Furthermore, plans are being finalized for three wind power stations with integrated storage systems in the Karakalpakstan region. The meeting specifically addressed accelerating the finalization of agreements for these Karakalpakstan projects, ensuring effective inter-agency coordination, and swiftly resolving practical issues.

Beyond power generation, the parties explored prospects for establishing a joint industrial park in Uzbekistan with Sumitomo Corporation's participation. Leveraging the company's international experience, this park is envisioned as a platform to attract Japanese investors and expand industrial cooperation.

The talks concluded with a reaffirmed commitment to deepening the partnership. Both Sumitomo Corporation and ACWA Power were recognized as strategically important and reliable partners for Uzbekistan's energy and industrial development.