The Samarkand province's power grids will be transferred to the management of the Turkish company Aksa Enerji, the press service of the Ministry of Economy and Finance reported.
On November 18, during the third roundtable discussion on public-private partnerships (PPPs), a document confirming the company being declared as winner in the international tender was handed over to Aksa Enerji.
The project involves the modernization of the Samarkand province's power distribution grids and their transfer under a permit to operate (the timelines wer not disclosed).
The certificate of victory was presented by the First Deputy Chairman of the Board of Provincial Power Grids, Alvar Gaibullaev.
Aksa Energy is part of Kazanci Holding, which was founded in 1960. The holding develops projects not only in the energy sector but also in agriculture and tourism. The company is also erecting power plants in several countries, including Turkiye, Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, and the Congo.
In January 2022, the company commissioned a 270 MW thermal power plant in Bukhara province, and a 240 MW thermal power plant in the Tashkent province on January 14 of that year.
In November 2023, the company announced it would invest $250 million in a 400 MW gas piston power plant project in Kashkadarya province.
The president’s August 30 Measures to develop public-private partnerships in 2024-2030 Decree noted that the winner of the tender for the modernization and transfer of power grids to a private operator in the Samarkand province was planned to be announced in December 2025.
The project was initially estimated at $250 million. According to Ministry of Energy, $357 million in foreign partner funds are planned to be disbursed by 2030.
The project includes the design, financing, construction, management, maintenance, and distribution of low-voltage distribution grid infrastructure in the Samarkand province.
According to the press service of Provincial Electric Networks, Aksa Enerji will manage the grids for up to 30 years, which may be extended based on the performance of the terms. "If the project is effective in Samarkand, the grids in all provinces will be gradually transferred to private management," the company stated.
According to Turkish media, the company plans to invest $1 billion in power distribution infrastructure over the license validity term. The planned investments should also help reduce energy losses, minimize power outages, and reduce carbon emissions.
"The Samarkand province, with an annual energy consumption of approximately 5.5 billion kWh and a population of 4.3 million, is one of the most strategic provinces in terms of industry, education, and tourism. With our experience and operational flexibility, we intend to create a model focused on uninterrupted energy supply, modern infrastructure, and environmental sustainability over a 30-year investment period," said Cemil Kazancı, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kazancı Holding and Aksa Elektrik.
In addition to Aksa Enerji, other companies which expressed interest in the project were Actis (UK), China Southern Power Grid (China), TATA Power (India), Čalık Enerji (Turkey), State Grid Corporation of China (China), CESC Limited (India), Sojits (Japan), a consortium of EDF (France) and The Kansai Electric Power (Japan), and Aydem Yenilenebilir Enerji (Turkey).
According to the Energy Market Development and Regulation Agency, three bidders have advanced to the final stage: AKSA Elektrik Perakende Satış A.Ş. Cengiz Enerji Sanayii ve Ticaret A.Ş., and a consortium of EDF Power Solutions International SAS and The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
