Interfax
October 29

Electricity production in Uzbekistan in January-September 2003 fell 1.7% year-on-year to amount to 35.92 billion kWh, a source in the republic's State Statistics Department told Interfax.

Power plants belonging to the state joint stock company Uzbekenergo produced 34.62 billion kWh (down 2.2% year-on-year), plants under the aegis of the Agriculture and Water Ministry produced 1.178 billion kWh (up 14.5%) and block stations at Almalyk Mining and Metals Plant produced 120 million kWh (down 2.4%).

According to the department, in the first three quarters of this year production of electricity at thermal power plants fell 3.7% year- on-year to 29.62 billion kWh, while production at hydroelectric plants increased 8.7% to 6.3 billion kWh.

The largest drop in electricity production in the republic was noted in September. Production last month amounted to 3.54 billion kWh, down 6% from September 2002.

Over 98% of the electricity produced in the republic is produced at Uzbekenergo plants. This company was set up based on the former Ministry for Electricity and Power Plants and includes 16 power producing companies, including seven thermal power plants, six hydroelectric plants and three combined heat and power plants.

The Uzbek energy system currently has 37 functioning power stations, with a capacity of 11.583 giga watts, of which thermal plants accounts for 9.873 giga watts and hydroelectric plants - 1.71 giga watts.

Electricity production in Uzbekistan in 2002 amounted to 49.306 billion kWh, up 2.9% year-on-year.

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