The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has signed an agreement with Uzbekistan to provide a sovereign loan of up to $250 million to modernize 110 irrigation pumping stations across the country, according to the press service of the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade (MIIT).
The signing ceremony took place during the 4th Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF), held in the Uzbek capital from June 9 to 12.
The project will cover 10 regions and is described by MIIT as a key contribution to Uzbekistan’s National Irrigation System Modernization Program. Once implemented, the project is expected to reduce annual electricity consumption by 251,000 megawatt-hours and cut carbon dioxide emissions by more than 117,000 tons. The initiative also includes upgrades to supporting infrastructure, including the installation of rooftop solar panels on pumping stations to enhance energy efficiency.
The EBRD currently has an active portfolio of 181 projects in Uzbekistan totaling €5.6 billion, with the majority of investments directed toward private sector development. For the fifth consecutive year, Uzbekistan remains the largest recipient of EBRD investments in Central Asia.
It was previously reported that in 2025 the EBRD plans to invest an additional $1.1 billion in Uzbekistan, raising its total portfolio in the country to $6.6 billion.
