COP29 Open Vaults For 1 GW Of Wind Farms For Uzbekistan

COP29 Open Vaults For 1 GW Of Wind Farms For Uzbekistan

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar, the UAE’s clean energy powerhouse, and the Ministry of Energy Uzbekistan have signed an agreement to develop a 1-gigawatt (GW) wind farm in the Mingbulak region of the country.

The company said that this new wind farm is likely to create 1,000 jobs during construction and 60 jobs during operation. Once completed, it will deliver clean energy to 300,000 homes in the region. The agreement further strengthens Masdar’s strategic partnership with Uzbekistan and marks the first phase of a broader strategy to establish three wind farms in the country, the firm said.

The signing ceremony took place on the sidelines of COP29 in Baku, witnessed by H.E. Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Chairman of Masdar, and COP28 President, and H.E. Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, Uzbekistan Minister of Energy. The agreement was signed by Jakhongir Obidjonov, Chairman of Uzenergosotish, and Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar.

In 2023 Masdar signed an Implementation Agreement to develop 2GW of new wind projects in Uzbekistan. In addition to the Mingbulak wind farm announced today, these will span two further sites including Akpetki in the country’s Karakalpakstan region and Buzaubay in its Navoiy region.

H.E. Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Chairman of Masdar, and COP28 President, said: “The long-standing relationship between the UAE and Uzbekistan underscores the scale and ambition needed to accelerate climate action and drive clean energy capacity growth. Developing a 1GW wind farm is another example of our commitment to deliver maximum energy with fewer emissions. Agreements like these further propel us towards our shared goals of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, as outlined in the historic UAE Consensus, and driving low-carbon socioeconomic progress.”

H.E. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said: “The UAE and Uzbekistan share a vision of sustainable development and renewable energy. We are pleased to see this partnership advancing clean, emissions-free energy in Uzbekistan and abroad. The UAE commends Uzbekistan’s climate leadership as we progress together in advancing the energy transition towards a new era of sustainable prosperity.”

H.E. Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, Uzbekistan Minister of Energy, said: “In such challenging circumstances, under the wise leadership of our President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan has set the transition to a “green” economy and the goal of carbon neutrality as its main strategic direction. Today, we are taking decisive steps towards the rapid development of renewable energy sources, adapting to climate change, and progressing towards sustainable growth.

“The Mingbulak Wind Power Plant marks a new phase in our partnership, offering us opportunities to enhance energy security, generate new jobs, and drive economic growth. We have strong confidence in Masdar’s projects in Uzbekistan and believe in their continued success.

The new wind project will contribute to Uzbekistan’s growing renewable energy portfolio and complement Masdar’s existing projects in the country, which include six utility-scale solar power plants. These initiatives are designed to enhance energy security, create jobs, and drive sustainable economic growth in Uzbekistan, while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.