SAMARKAND, May 6. /Dunyo IA/. Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Saudi company ACWA Power have signed a USD 116 million financing agreement for the implementation of the 300-megawatt “Bash-2” wind power project in the Bukhara region of Uzbekistan, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The project is aimed at further developing renewable energy and supporting Uzbekistan's transition to a more sustainable and low-carbon energy supply model. The financial package includes USD 50 million from ADB’s ordinary capital resources, USD 41 million mobilized from commercial lenders with ADB acting as the mandated lead arranger and bookrunner, and USD 25 million from the LEAP 2 fund.

The project involves the construction of 39 wind turbines with a capacity of up to 8 MW each, a new 35/500 kV substation, and a 1.5-kilometer transmission line to connect the plant to the national power grid.

As Suzanne Gaboury, ADB Director General for Private Sector Operations, noted, the project will strengthen the country’s energy resilience, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and create new high-skilled jobs.

According to her, along with other wind energy initiatives supported by the ADB in Uzbekistan, the total capacity financed by the bank in the country will exceed 2 gigawatts.

The project is expected to create at least 800 jobs during the construction phase and at least 25 permanent positions during operation. Special attention will be paid to expanding the participation of women and girls in the renewable energy sector, including the organization of study tours to wind energy sites for female students and graduates.

Mohammad Abunayyan, Founder and Chairman of the Board of ACWA Power, stated that the project’s implementation confirms Uzbekistan's commitment to clean energy development and demonstrates the commercial attractiveness of large-scale wind power projects in the region.

ACWA Power operates energy and water desalination projects in 15 countries worldwide. The ADB has previously supported several of the company's energy projects in Uzbekistan, including the “Bash", “Dzhankeldy” and “Nukus-2” wind power projects, as well as the “Samarkand-1” and “Samarkand-2” solar projects.