“Nefteniyi Vedomosti” newspaper of Lukoil Overseas said that Lukiol developed a proposal on construction of solar power station with the capacity of 100 megawatt in Navoi city and creation of national solar energy institute on the initiative of the leadership of Uzbekistan.

Within this work, the draft memorandum of understanding between Lukoil and the Government of Uzbekistan was developed. While, in cooperation with Spain’s Mercados, the amendments to the legislation on alternative energy were prepared.

In the end of 2011, the company developed preliminary project of solar power station with estimated construction price of about 250 million euros. The company said that after the governmental approval, the detailed project will be developed.

As reported earlier, Lukoil plans to attract resources of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for implementation of this project. In February 2012, Uzbekistan and the ADB inaugurated a new solar energy research facility that will eventually enable Uzbekistan to become an international knowledge hub and solar.

The International Solar Energy Institute (ISEI) is envisioned to become an internationally recognized source of expertise for solar energy education, training and technology. Its applied research will bring innovation, promote technology transfer and spur efficient and economic solar technology use.

Uzbekistan has great potential for development of alternative energy. Uzbekistan has more than 300 sunny days, which can be used effectively.

According to some calculations, opportunity of renewable energy in Uzbekistan can be equal to 51 billion tonnes of oil. Current technologies will allow Uzbekistan to produce energy equal to 179 million tonnes, which exceeds the volume of produced energy in Uzbekistan three times and allows to cut emission of 447 million tonnes of carbonic acid gases, various sulphureous compounds, nitric oxide, etc.