In June 2010, the Uzbek president signed a resolution “On measures on implementing investment project “Transfer of power-generating units No. 1-5 of the Novo-Angren thermal power station to annual burning of coal (stage 1) with modernization of Angren mine”.

The feasibility study with calculated cost for US$213.74 million were developed and approved. The project will be financed due to own resources of Uzbekenergo state joint stock company, loan of China Eximbank and credit of the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan.

The government exempted Uzbekenergo, Novo-Angren thermal power station and Uzbekugol from payment of customs duties for imported equipment and materials (except registration fee) till 1 January 2013.

Pravda Vostoka reported that the reconstruction of Angren coal mine is underway now. Its production capacities make up 3.2 million tonnes of coal a year. The modernization will allow to replace old-dated equipment and double coal mining by 2012. At the same time, Novo-Angren thermal power station will consume 5.2 million tonnes of coal instead of 2.2 million tonnes. This will allow to save 825 million cubic meters of natural gas.

Russian IZ-Karteks supplied first excavator to the Angren mine. The excavator was assembled by specialists of Repair Mining-Transport Equipment.

The supply of equipment within the project is continuing. The Russian company sent spare parts for the second excavator and they arrived in Uzbekistan. The assembly of the excavator is underway.

Deputy senior engineer on production of Uzbekugol OJSC Aliqul Urunbaev said that overall it is planned to buy 46 units of equipment for stripping and coal mining works, 20 units additional equipment and technologies for equipping newly created machine-shops.

Along with excavators, which can strip from five to 15 cubic meters of coal layer, the enterprise is planning to receive mobile crushing facilities, loaders and conveyor lines. The equipment suppliers are from Russia, China and the European states.

Urunbaev said that Jigiristan assorting and loading point is also waiting for new equipment. Introduction of new equipment will allow to produce enriched coal through combining low and high cindery coal. This will help to increase sorting and loading capacity. It is planned to invest US$7.4 million to this project.

Modernization of Angren mine, Uzbekugol has also other perspective projects, which were included to the programme on modernization, technical and technological re-equipment of coal industry for 2009-2014. Their total cost exceeds US$1.1 billion.

The main coal consumer in Uzbekistan is power industry. Uzbekistan is also developing this sector. In 2010, Uzbekenergo attracted US$123.9 million of foreign loans and US$218.2 million of loans of the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan. About 30 km power transmission lines and new transformer capacities have been commissioned.

Works are underway at construction of Kamolot hydro power station, installation of combined cycle gas turbine at Navoi and Talimardjan thermal power stations, turbo expender-generator at Syrdarya and Talimardjan thermal power stations, modernization of hydro power units of Charvaq hydro power station.

The company also has several perspective investment projects. One of the is construction of new substation at Talimardjan thermal power station and 218 km high-voltage line to Sogdiana substation. The line will pass through Kashkadarya and Samarkand region. Over US$150 million will be spent to the project. It is planned that the large part of these funds will be financed by the World Bank.