Uzbekistan’s state hydropower producer, Uzbekgidroenergo, has awarded a contract to China’s Sinohydro Co., Ltd. for the modernization of the Shakhrikhan hydropower cascade. The agreement, signed following a tender process, focuses on upgrading facilities in the Andijan region to increase the country’s renewable energy output.
Under the terms of the engineering, procurement, and construction contract, Sinohydro will deliver a turnkey project for the HPP–5A and HPP–6A stations. The Chinese firm is responsible for the entire project lifecycle – including technical design, construction, equipment supply, and commissioning of the plants.
The modernization is expected to increase the total capacity of the cascade from 7.6 MW to 16.4 MW. This upgrade will allow for the additional generation of 33 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, which is sufficient to meet the energy demands of more than 13,000 households.
Beyond the capacity increase, the project aims to reduce the energy sector’s reliance on fossil fuels. Technical estimates suggest the upgrade will save approximately 11 million cubic meters of natural gas and 27,500 tons of coal annually.
The initiative aligns with Uzbekistan’s efforts to integrate modern technological standards into its power grid and enhance regional energy security. The partnership with Sinohydro represents a continuation of Tashkent’s strategy to attract foreign investment for the rehabilitation of aging Soviet–era infrastructure and the development of sustainable energy sources.
