Uzbekistan is preparing for one of its hottest weeks of the year, with electricity demand expected to approach a record as temperatures are forecast to reach 44-46°C across parts of the country. Authorities are taking measures to maintain power supplies during the extreme heat.
The Ministry of Energy estimates that daily electricity demand could rise to 280 million kilowatt-hours, while peak load is expected to reach 13–13.3 gigawatts - just below Uzbekistan's record daily consumption of 283 million kilowatt-hours.
The forecast comes as authorities step up preparations to ensure uninterrupted electricity supplies during the heatwave. At a meeting of the Republican Headquarters on Energy Security, officials instructed power companies to strengthen monitoring of substations and transmission networks, increase round-the-clock supervision of energy facilities, and reinforce preventive maintenance.
As an additional safety measure, the ministry announced that the loading and unloading of liquefied gas would be temporarily suspended during the hottest hours of the day to reduce the risk of fires and explosions. Joint inspections involving the General Prosecutor's Office, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and other regulatory agencies will also be carried out at energy and fuel infrastructure facilities.
The ministry said several officials had been held personally responsible for recent power outages at substations in Tashkent, with some managers dismissed following investigations into the incidents.
Uzbekistan's preparations come amid growing international concern over the impact of increasingly severe heatwaves.
According to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service, western Europe experienced its hottest June on record this year, with average temperatures more than 3°C above the 1991–2020 average. Temperatures exceeded 40°C across several countries, disrupting power supplies, forcing school closures and fuelling wildfires.
The human cost has also been significant.
Data published by EuroMOMO, a mortality monitoring network supported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organization, showed that more than 10,000 excess deaths were recorded across 27 European countries during the peak week of the late June heatwave. More than 9,000 of those deaths occurred among people aged 65 and over.
Scientists say there were no other major public health events during that period that could explain the sharp rise in mortality, pointing instead to extreme temperatures as the primary factor.
Climate researchers say heatwaves are becoming longer, hotter and more frequent as global temperatures continue to rise.
The European Commission says that 23 of the 30 most severe heatwaves recorded in Europe since 1950 have occurred since 2000, while heat now accounts for around 95% of weather-related deaths on the continent.
Experts warn that extreme heat places increasing pressure on electricity systems as demand for air conditioning and cooling rises, while also affecting public health, water resources and critical infrastructure.
Although Europe has experienced some of the most closely monitored recent heatwaves, Central Asia is also becoming increasingly vulnerable to prolonged periods of extreme temperatures.
Alongside measures to protect the country's energy system, Uzbek authorities are urging residents to take precautions during the coming days.
The National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change has advised people to avoid prolonged outdoor activity between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., drink plenty of water, and pay particular attention to children, older people, and those with underlying health conditions.
The committee has also called on citizens and local authorities to protect trees and green spaces by watering them during the early morning or evening and strengthening fire prevention measures, warning that prolonged heat can damage vegetation, worsen water shortages and increase environmental risks.
With temperatures expected to remain exceptionally high throughout the week, officials say maintaining stable electricity supplies and protecting public safety will remain top priorities as Uzbekistan faces one of the highest levels of electricity demand in its history.
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