Uzbekistan has commissioned two small hydropower plants, Kugay-1 and Kugay-2, with a combined capacity of 18 megawatts in the eastern Namangan region, expanding the country’s renewable generation base.
The facilities were built along the Great Andijan Canal in the Uchkurgan and Naryn districts. State hydropower company Uzbekhydroenergo said Kugay-1 has a capacity of 12 megawatts, while Kugay-2 provides 6 megawatts. Prior to the launch, the region operated ten hydroelectric stations totaling 100.5 megawatts, with the new units increasing local hydropower capacity by approximately 18 percent.
Both plants are part of a 54.7 million dollar investment project to develop a cascade of small hydroelectric stations along the canal. A third facility, the Beshkurgan plant, is scheduled to be added to the system later. Once all three stations are operational, the cascade will have a total capacity of 23 megawatts and an estimated annual output of 172.5 million kilowatt-hours.
The two newly commissioned units are expected to generate 132.1 million kilowatt-hours annually, which authorities estimate is sufficient to supply roughly 53,000 households. The project is projected to save about 40 million cubic meters of natural gas or 33,000 tonnes of coal each year by replacing thermal generation.
The engineering design integrates turbines directly into existing canal infrastructure without requiring large dams or reservoir flooding. Officials confirmed that the canal will maintain its primary function of regional water distribution while supporting Uzbekistan’s broader energy diversification goals.
