On November 7, a major strategic energy facility—the 500 kV 'Khalka' substation—was officially commissioned in the Tashkent region. The newly inaugurated infrastructure is purportedly designed to significantly enhance the reliability of power supply in the capital city and parts of the Tashkent region, while enabling a more optimal distribution of loads across existing transmission grids.
Key Takeaways: Implemented with the participation of the World Bank, the total cost of this high-profile project reached $171.4 million. Boasting a capacity of 1,602 MVA, the substation is allegedly one of the largest and most advanced high-voltage facilities in the country, utilizing cutting-edge digital management solutions.
According to statements from the Ministry of Energy, the project encompassed the construction of 285 kilometers of high-voltage overhead transmission lines in total. This includes 213 kilometers of 220 kV lines and 72 kilometers of 500 kV lines. Authorities report that final works are currently underway to fully integrate the new assets into the country’s unified electric power grid.
World Bank data indicates that 'Khalka' is reportedly the first substation in the country where management and monitoring processes are executed entirely through modern digital technologies. The facility is set to receive electrical power from generation plants located in the Syrdarya region, as well as from wind power plants situated in the country's southwestern territories.
This construction effort forms a vital component of the broader 'Electricity Sector Transformation and Sustainable Transmission' project, which is being carried out by National Electric Grids of Uzbekistan JSC with financial backing from the World Bank totaling $380 million. The overarching initiative was initially approved back in 2021.
Alongside the establishment of the 'Khalka' substation, the multi-year program supposedly provides for the reconstruction, modernization, and expansion of 22 aging high-voltage substations across virtually all regions of Uzbekistan. Upcoming developmental phases are expected to further improve systemic monitoring and operational efficiency.
Source: www.gazeta.uz