Three years ago, French energy giant Veolia embarked on an ambitious infrastructure transformation mission in Uzbekistan’s capital, taking control of Tashkent’s entire heating supply system. What started as a bold venture into Central Asian utilities has evolved into a comprehensive modernization success story that’s reshaping how a city of over one million residents experiences winter comfort.
Strategic Infrastructure Overhaul
Since July 2022, Veolia Energy Tashkent has orchestrated a complete reimagining of the city’s thermal infrastructure. The company launched construction of next-generation closed-system boiler houses in Bektemir and Sergeli districts, each equipped with backup power sources and emergency fuel supply systems — engineering solutions that ensure uninterrupted operations even during crisis situations.
The transition to closed heating schemes represents a technical revolution. By transferring heat through heat exchangers rather than direct contact with network water, the system dramatically reduces energy losses while improving hot water quality and extending the lifespan of in-building systems. The installation of 144 individual thermal points (ITP) enables precise heat regulation for residential buildings, marking a shift from Soviet-era centralized distribution to smart, localized control.
Expansion Into New Territories
The 2025 expansion program targets Almazar and Sergeli districts with surgical precision. In the Beshkurgan area, 20 new ITPs are being installed alongside thermal network reconstruction, while Sergeli-5 will receive 52 additional ITPs. The crown jewel of this expansion is a planned 97 MW boiler house in Karasu (Mirzo-Ulugbek district), scheduled for commissioning in 2026.
Engineering Excellence Through Advanced Materials
The pipeline replacement program showcases European engineering standards adapted for Central Asian conditions. Steel pipes with polyurethane foam (PPU) insulation are systematically replacing aging infrastructure, with 20 kilometers scheduled for 2025 and 73 kilometers in the broader modernization scope. This material choice reflects Veolia’s commitment to long-term energy efficiency, with PPU insulation share increasing annually.
Digital Transformation Revolution
Since 2023, Veolia has deployed a sophisticated digital ecosystem featuring an electronic city model and real-time monitoring dispatch system. This technological infrastructure enables specialists to track network performance, analyze parameters, and resolve issues with unprecedented speed. The 2024 technical audit covered over 1,380 kilometers of thermal networks, 8,426 thermal chambers, 214 boiler houses, and 89 pumping stations, identifying more than 26,500 violations — a diagnostic achievement that significantly enhanced system reliability.
The smart metering revolution includes 144 building-level heat and hot water meters, with over 11,000 smart meters featuring remote data transmission capabilities deployed in 2025. This infrastructure supports transparent billing and efficient energy management, backed by the new 1C Heat Network Management 2.0 billing system for automated data processing.
Measurable Environmental Impact
The transformation delivers quantifiable results that would impress any sustainability-focused boardroom. Heat losses plummeted from 44% to 33.4% by 2024, natural gas consumption decreased by 25%, and drinking water usage fell by 20%. These improvements stem from comprehensive modernization including PPU pipes, smart meters, and hydraulic network adjustment. Most remarkably, CO₂ emissions from the centralized heating system dropped by 0.5 million tons over three years — from 2.9 million to 2.4 million tons annually.
Long-Term Strategic Vision
In December 2024, Veolia developed a comprehensive heating supply scheme for Tashkent extending to 2045, currently under governmental review. This document outlines strategic development vision addressing growing demand and rising service quality requirements, positioning the capital for decades of sustainable thermal comfort.
For international companies in construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors, Veolia’s Tashkent operations demonstrate how European engineering excellence can successfully adapt to Central Asian markets. The project showcases Uzbekistan’s openness to foreign expertise in critical infrastructure, particularly in energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. Companies specializing in building materials, industrial equipment, smart city technologies, and environmental solutions will find this transformation indicative of broader opportunities across Uzbekistan’s modernization agenda, where government support combines with international partnerships to deliver measurable improvements in urban infrastructure quality.
