A landmark energy infrastructure project has come online in Tashkent, marking a significant step forward in modernizing the Uzbek capital’s heating and electricity systems. The 100-megawatt cogeneration facility, developed through a public-private partnership with China’s CNTIC and equipped with advanced British technology from Rolls-Royce, represents a $65 million foreign direct investment that promises substantial operational and environmental gains for the city.
A dual-energy solution addressing urban infrastructure gaps
Built on the territory of Tashkent’s thermal power center number four in the Yunusabad district, the facility combines electricity generation and heat production from a single natural gas source — an approach known as cogeneration that optimizes fuel efficiency. The installation features 70 gas-piston engines supplied by Rolls-Royce, making it a technologically sophisticated operation designed to operate reliably across Tashkent’s demanding winters and varying demand cycles.
The infrastructure footprint spans 3.5 hectares and incorporates an extensive modernization of the city’s heating network. Thermal pipelines have been upgraded and replaced with insulated piping systems that dramatically reduce energy losses during distribution — a critical detail often overlooked in older infrastructure but essential for cost efficiency and environmental performance.
Economic and environmental returns
The operational projections are substantial. The facility is expected to generate 876 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and 858,000 gigacalories of thermal energy annually while conserving approximately 35 million cubic meters of natural gas compared to conventional power generation approaches. The cost reduction for heat production reaches between 40 and 45 percent — a meaningful figure for urban utilities managing sprawling city systems.
From an environmental standpoint, the facility delivers measurable improvements. Atmospheric emissions of harmful substances decline significantly, and the system eliminates the need for wastewater treatment that older coal and fuel oil-based systems required.
Scale of coverage and urban reach
The cogeneration station now provides consistent heating to approximately 1,846 facilities distributed across five Tashkent districts: Yunusabad, Almazarsky, Shaykhantakhr, Mirzo-Ulugbek, and Yakkasaray. Of these, 1,400 are residential buildings while the remainder comprises social infrastructure — schools, hospitals, and administrative facilities. Additionally, 292,000 apartments receive stable electricity supply through the system. This geographic and functional diversity underscores the facility’s role as critical infrastructure rather than a specialized installation.
Context of official oversight and broader citywide preparations
The cogeneration facility opened as part of Uzbekistan’s comprehensive preparation for the winter heating season. During an inspection of the facility, officials reviewed Tashkent’s readiness across multiple fronts: the modernization of the city’s thermal power station, the operational readiness of 358 management and service companies overseeing 11,630 apartment buildings, and protocols for responding to extreme cold events. The inspection highlighted that management company performance directly impacts residents’ daily comfort and safety, emphasizing the need for coordinated, uninterrupted operations across the city’s utilities.
Relevance for international business actors
This infrastructure development signals Uzbekistan’s commitment to modernizing urban systems through foreign technology partnerships and capital investment — a pattern relevant for businesses in construction, building systems integration, industrial manufacturing, and facility management sectors. The successful deployment of the cogeneration system demonstrates the country’s capacity to absorb advanced energy technology and execute large-scale infrastructure projects through international collaboration. For companies operating in Central Asia or considering expansion into the region, Tashkent’s infrastructure modernization trajectory offers insight into procurement patterns, technology preferences, and the regulatory environment governing major industrial projects. The emphasis on cost reduction, environmental compliance, and service reliability reflects growing market demands that extend beyond energy to encompass broader urban development and industrial facility requirements across the region.
