There was a plan to fund the project with a US$26.3 million loan from China. It is expected that a loan agreement will be signed in the first half of 2009.

The project, which was included in Uzbekistan’s national investment programme for 2009 on attracting foreign loans under the government’s guarantee, envisages the construction of two 220 and 110 kW electricity substations with cable lines and stations for switching to 110 kW. The implementation of the project will begin in 2009, and there are plans to attract about US$5 million this year.

Uzbekistan increased electricity generation by 2.3% in 2008.