The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is expanding its partnership with ACWA Power to accelerate Uzbekistan’s transition to renewable energy through a major new wind power project.

The announcement was made during the 59th Annual Meeting of the ADB Board of Governors in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, underscoring the growing focus on clean energy investment in Central Asia, The Caspian Post reports via Report.

The ADB has signed a $116 million financing package with ACWA Power to support the development, construction, and operation of a 300 MW wind power plant in Uzbekistan’s Bukhara Region.

The project is designed to speed up Uzbekistan’s shift toward renewable energy sources and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

The financing package includes $50 million from ADB’s ordinary capital resources, $41 million arranged from commercial lenders with ADB acting as lead arranger and bookrunner, and $25 million from the Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund 2 (LEAP 2).

The new wind farm, named Bash 2, will build on the earlier Bash project co-financed by ADB in 2023. It will feature 39 wind turbines, each with a capacity of up to 8 MW, along with the construction of a new 35/500 kV substation.