Uzbekistan is combining renewable energy expansion with sweeping land restoration, installing solar stations in local communities while rehabilitating degraded farmland to spur rural development and climate-smart growth, the government has announced.
Officials say the initiative is designed not only to reduce electricity shortages but also to support small businesses, improve infrastructure and stimulate employment in underserved regions. The solar rollout forms part of a wider poverty-reduction strategy covering 37 districts and more than 900 mahallas.One of the flagship initiatives focuses on installing small solar photoelectric stations in around 1,000 mahallas - neighbourhood-based community units that play a key role in local governance and social support. The programme targets areas with difficult socio-economic conditions and aims to create new income sources while improving energy reliability.
Under the plan, solar plants with a capacity of 300–500 kilowatts will be introduced and leased to local communities for seven years on preferential, affordable terms. Funding is expected to reach about $230 million, including $110 million from the Fund for Reconstruction and Development and an additional $120 million from international financial institutions.
Restoring pastureland and agricultural capacity
Alongside renewable energy projects, Uzbekistan is scaling up land restoration programmes to strengthen food security and climate resilience. Authorities plan to restore more than 630,000 hectares of pastureland in 2026–2027, by introducing measures such as planting pasture crops on 300,000 hectares and installing water wells across 130,000 hectares.
The programme is expected to support grazing for up to 960,000 head of livestock and increase meat and wool production. Over the longer term, officials aim to improve the condition of nearly 938,000 hectares of pastureland by 2030 as part of efforts to combat desertification and improve rural incomes.
Recent agricultural reforms have already brought more than 826,000 hectares into use through irrigation and land improvement projects. New orchards and vineyards developed on previously inefficient land are projected to generate fruit and vegetable exports worth up to $660 million annually once they reach full production.
Linking climate action with economic growth
Analysts note that combining renewable energy with land restoration reflects a broader policy shift towards “green growth,” where environmental protection is tied directly to job creation and regional development.
By investing in solar energy at the community level and improving the productivity of rural land, authorities aim to address climate challenges while supporting long-term economic prospects for local populations.
Heavy monsoon rains triggered deadly landslides at Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, killing at least eight people, including children, and forcin...
Christian Dior has secured one of fashion's most coveted celebrity endorsements after both Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce wore custom haute couture des...
The United States has confirmed that a previously delayed troop rotation to Poland will resume within weeks, reassuring Warsaw after months of uncerta...
China has launched a new direct rail freight route to Turkmenistan, expanding its transport links with Central Asia as trade and investment across the region continue to grow. The service will carry Chinese industrial and consumer goods to the Caspian region.
Uzbekistan is seeking to expand export and import cargo transportation through Georgia’s Black Sea port of Poti as part of efforts to diversify trade routes and strengthen regional connectivity, the Ministry of Transport said.
Uzbekistan will open an embassy in Georgia, the Central Asian country’s presidency has said. The announcement follows talks between Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in Tbilisi.
Passengers travelling through Tashkent International Airport can now receive customs guidance from an AI-powered robot, as Uzbekistan continues to expand the digitalisation of its border services.
Russia's Defence Ministry has said its forces are clearing the town of Lyman in Donetsk of Ukrainian forces, Moscow's state news agency Tass reported. Meanwhile, Russian attacks killed at least six people across three Ukrainian regions on Friday, regional officials said.
The death toll from Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes has risen to 3,342, according to the country's information ministry, as rescue teams continue searching affected areas and survivors face an uncertain recovery.
Governments are tightening restrictions on teenagers’ use of social media amid growing concerns over mental health, online safety and platform design, but questions remain over enforcement and whether bans can meaningfully change behaviour.
President Donald Trump said Iran is keen to reach a deal with the United States, claiming Washington had paused engagement to allow funeral ceremonies for late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran on Sunday as Iran held funeral prayers for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and four members of his family on the second day of mass processions. Three of Khamenei's sons attended the ceremony, while his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, made no public appearance.
China has launched a new direct rail freight route to Turkmenistan, expanding its transport links with Central Asia as trade and investment across the region continue to grow. The service will carry Chinese industrial and consumer goods to the Caspian region.
More than 100 people were detained in Ankara on Sunday (5 July) after taking part in an anti-NATO protest organised by the Communist Party of Türkiye (TKP), according to the party.
Thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran on Sunday as Iran held funeral prayers for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and four members of his family on the second day of mass processions. Three of Khamenei's sons attended the ceremony, while his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, made no public appearance.
Regional economic cooperation took centre stage in Baku as the 28th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank was held alongside a Business Forum. The event brought together government officials, business leaders and experts from across the region.
Uzbekistan is seeking to expand export and import cargo transportation through Georgia’s Black Sea port of Poti as part of efforts to diversify trade routes and strengthen regional connectivity, the Ministry of Transport said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment