Reforms Boost Türkiye-Uzbekistan Energy Cooperation: Minister

Uzbekistan's energy cooperation with Türkiye is gaining momentum as the Central Asian nation continues its reforms and seeks to attract more private investment, according to the country's Energy Minister, Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov.

Türkiye and Turkish companies were early supporters of Uzbekistan's reform drive, particularly in launching the country's first public-private partnership projects, Mirzamakhmudov told an interview with Anadolu Agency (AA), The Caspian Post reports.

"Türkiye and Turkish companies were the first to support us in those reforms, in the transformation and implementation of the first Public-Private Partnership projects (PPP)," he said.

Private investment initially focused on power generation, Mirzamakhmudov said, before expanding into other parts of the sector. Türkiye also backed Uzbekistan's efforts to establish an energy market regulator, drawing on its own experience.

Türkiye and Uzbekistan have expanded energy ties in recent years as Tashkent accelerates market-oriented reforms and seeks foreign investment.

Bilateral relations have gained momentum since 2016, with trade volume increasing from $1.2 billion to $3.5 billion by 2024. Turkish companies are active across Uzbekistan's power sector, including generation, distribution and major infrastructure projects.

Mirzamakhmudov said the first PPP electricity distribution project in the Samarkand region was awarded to a Turkish company through an international tender. Since then, Turkish firms have taken on a visible role in Uzbekistan's energy infrastructure as engineering, procurement and construction contractors.

He said Uzbekistan has also launched its first PPP projects in district heating with Turkish companies in Tashkent. While small in scale, the projects are notable for bringing private operators into district heating distribution. A cogeneration plant was built as part of the effort.