Uzbekistan is expanding its hydropower infrastructure in the southern Surkhandarya region as part of a national strategy to reduce energy shortages and increase renewable generation. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the Topolang River sites to review progress on a development program that has seen regional capacity grow significantly since 2017.
The expansion follows the reconstruction of the Topolang reservoir, which increased its storage capacity from 100 million to 500 million cubic meters. This technical upgrade provided the necessary water pressure to support multiple new generating units. In 2017, the region operated a single 30 megawatt (MW) hydropower plant. Today, the regional network includes 13 facilities with a combined capacity of 273.4 MW, generating approximately 800 million kilowatt-hours annually for residential and industrial use.
Construction has started on the Kishtut cascade located in the upper reaches of the Topolang River. This new complex will consist of three separate hydropower stations with a total capacity of 80 MW. The project has been designated a national priority – a move intended to secure stable power supplies and streamline regional energy independence.
The government continues to evaluate further potential for hydroelectric development along the river’s course. This shift reflects a broader policy in Uzbekistan to modernize its energy infrastructure and diversify the power mix toward domestic renewable sources.
