In 2023, Uzbekistan’s electricity consumption depended overwhelmingly on fossil fuels, which supplied about 87% of the total. Gas alone accounted for roughly 78%, while coal contributed around 7%. Low-carbon electricity supplied just 9%, almost entirely from hydropower, which contributed a little over 8%. Net imports covered the remaining 4%. Expanding clean electricity would help Uzbekistan reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and the associated climate impacts and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Uzbekistan?

Uzbekistan’s electricity consumption per person remains well below its historical peak, although these figures alone do not establish whether it grew in 2023. Consumption reached about 2,220 kWh per person, compared with a record of roughly 2,890 kWh in 1987—a shortfall of around 670 kWh, or 23%. Low-carbon electricity generation was about 200 kWh per person, down from nearly 370 kWh in 1988, a decline of around 170 kWh, or 46%. These gaps are concerning: Uzbekistan needs sustained growth in electricity supply, especially clean generation, to support electrification, economic development and emerging demand from AI.

Suggestions

Uzbekistan can expand low-carbon electricity by developing solar, wind and nuclear generation together, supported by stronger grids and storage. Relevant examples include Pakistan, where solar supplies about 24% of electricity generation and nuclear another 13%, and Armenia, where nuclear provides almost 30%. The United Arab Emirates generates about 20% of its electricity from nuclear, offering another useful example for a country with a hot, dry climate. For solar, Uzbekistan can also learn from the US state of Nevada, where it supplies roughly 35% of generation. Wind development can draw lessons from regions such as the US state of Kansas, where wind provides almost half of electricity generation. Clear procurement rules, long-term investment and workforce development could help Uzbekistan translate these examples into a larger, more diverse clean electricity supply.

History

The supplied history shows repeated swings in Uzbekistan’s hydropower generation rather than steady low-carbon growth. In the late 1980s, hydro rose by 2.2 TWh in 1987 but fell by 1.7 TWh in 1989. The 1990s brought several gains of around 1 TWh, interrupted by a similar decline in 1995. The 2000s were especially volatile: generation fell by 3.5 TWh in 2000, recovered during 2002–2003, and then alternated between substantial gains and losses, including a 2.8 TWh increase in 2005 followed by a 4.2 TWh fall in 2006. Gains in 2009–2010 were followed by a 2.5 TWh decline in 2011. Further increases in 2015 and 2017 were offset by declines in 2018 and 2020, before a 1.5 TWh recovery in 2022. This uneven record reinforces the case for adding substantial solar, wind and nuclear generation alongside hydropower.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade