Uzbekistan : Navoi Solar Power Project
The project consists of a 100-megawatt grid connected solar power plant in Navoi District, Uzbekistan. 'Nur Navoi Solar Foreign Enterprise (NNS), a Limited Liability Company is the borrower for the loan and will build, own, and operate the project. Masdar is the sponsor of NNS. The project Power Purchase Agreement was signed with JSC National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan in 2019.
Project Details
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Project Officer
Mokroussov, Sergey
Private Sector Operations Department
Request for information -
Country/Economy
Uzbekistan -
Sector
- Energy
| Project Name | Navoi Solar Power Project | ||||||||||
| Project Number | 53340-001 | ||||||||||
| Borrower / Company | Nur Navoi Solar Foreign Enterprise Limited Liability Company |
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| Country / Economy | Uzbekistan |
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| Location | Nation-wide | ||||||||||
| Type or Modality of Assistance |
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| Operational Priorities | OP1: Addressing remaining poverty and reducing inequalities OP2: Accelerating progress in gender equality OP3: Tackling climate change, building climate and disaster resilience, and enhancing environmental sustainability |
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| Sector / Subsector | Energy / Renewable energy generation - solar |
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| Gender | Some gender elements | ||||||||||
| Responsible ADB Department | Private Sector Operations Department | ||||||||||
| Responsible ADB Division | Portfolio Management Division, PSOD | ||||||||||
| Responsible ADB Officer | Mokroussov, Sergey | ||||||||||
| Project Sponsor(s) | Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC - Masdar |
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| Description | The project consists of a 100-megawatt grid connected solar power plant in Navoi District, Uzbekistan. 'Nur Navoi Solar Foreign Enterprise (NNS), a Limited Liability Company is the borrower for the loan and will build, own, and operate the project. Masdar is the sponsor of NNS. The project Power Purchase Agreement was signed with JSC National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan in 2019. | ||||||||||
| Objectives and Scope | Uzbekistan's new energy policy emphasizes the deployment of renewable energy with a target of adding 5-gigawatt solar capacity by 2030. However, renewable energy initiatives have typically faced challenges in their implementation. This project is expected to establish bankable precedents intended to catalyze further private sector participation in Uzbekistan's renewable energy sector. | ||||||||||
| Status of Operation/Construction | The project has been operational since December 2021. | ||||||||||
| Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy | The project is consistent with ADB's Strategy 2030, which includes tackling climate change and enhancing environmental sustainability as key operational priorities. The project is also consistent with the Uzbekistan Country Partnership Strategy 2019- 2023, as the project will help foster reliable energy supply to improve energy security and promote the use of renewable energy sources. ADB seeks to create conditions for greater private sector participation in Uzbekistan. |
| Safeguard Categories | |
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| Environment | B |
| Involuntary Resettlement | B |
| Indigenous Peoples | C |
| Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects | |
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| Environmental Aspects | The project is classified as category B for environment. An environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) report has been prepared by a third-party consultant to meet the requirements of the ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement (2009). The project area is largely characterized as Natural Habitat, although the site is grazed by domestic animals and localized areas within the northern and eastern boundary of the site have been modified by historic cultivation. Therefore, Natural Habitat requirements of IFC's PS6 (Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources) have been applied to the Project. The March 2020 field survey confirmed the presence of the IUCN Vulnerable Central Asian Tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii) and sighted a single Steppe eagle (Aguila nipalensis). Consultations with the Emirate Centre for the Conservation of the Houbara (ECCH) also confirmed that the Asian Houbara (Chlamydotis macqueeni) might potentially be present at the project site. As per the ESAP, the company was required to (i) develop a construction-phase Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) that demonstrates no net loss of Natural Habitat and associated threatened species (including the Central Asian Tortoise), with appropriate mitigation measures to preserve the integrity of topsoil and existing natural vegetation on-site and restoration of natural vegetation in areas disturbed during construction, (ii) develop an operational-phase BMP that includes long-term management of Natural Habitat on site and control of invasive alien species. The BMP includes a biodiversity monitoring plan for the operational phase, including monitoring of bird and tortoise fatalities to demonstrate no net loss of Natural Habitat, and (iii) install and maintain bird flight deflectors on existing or new overhead transmission lines for the life of the project. The anticipated project impacts, such as noise, vibration, dust, waste generation, water consumption, soil contamination, occupational health and safety risks, and traffic congestion, are mostly associated with construction work. These impacts are generally site-specific and short-term and can be effectively managed by good engineering, construction, and housekeeping practices in accordance with the site-specific environmental management plan developed for the project. The project site's occupational health and safety concerns are mitigated through the project's health and safety and emergency response plan which includes routine training, monitoring, and the provision of personal protective equipment. |
| Involuntary Resettlement | The project's proposed classification is category B for anticipated involuntary resettlement impacts. The borrower will lease 264 hectares of land for a nominal fee from the government per the Power Purchase Agreement. The area of state land was previously leased by two farmers for grazing activity. Their overall lease holding areas were reportedly reduced by the government prior to the project. The government is resolving replacement land issuance with one farmer, after which each is expected to have adequate land to continue grazing activities. Economic displacement through loss of public access to grazing opportunities may need to be managed by the project for a sub-tenant of one of the farm areas. Unless otherwise resolved by government, the borrower will develop a livelihood restoration measure for the sub-tenant in consultation with government and will report periodically to ADB on its progress. |
| Indigenous Peoples | The project is classified as category C for Indigenous Peoples. The project is not expected to have impacts on indigenous peoples as due diligence confirmed that there are no distinct and vulnerable Indigenous Peoples or ethnic minority groups residing in or laying claim to the land in the project area. |
| Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation | The project has developed a Stakeholder Engagement Plan as part of the ESIA. While engagement during the project appraisal process has been limited by COVID-19 restrictions on travel and group meetings, the plan sets out adequate actions to enable effective and meaningful stakeholder engagement in future. |
| Timetable for assistance design, processing and implementation | |
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| Concept Clearance | 28 Apr 2020 |
| Credit Committee Meeting | 28 Aug 2020 |
| Approval | 30 Sep 2020 |
| Last PDS Update | 17 Oct 2022 |
Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.
The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.
The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.
In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.
| Title | Document Type | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| Navoi Solar Power Project: Report and Recommendation of the President | Reports and Recommendations of the President | Sep 2020 |
| Navoi Solar Power Project: Initial Poverty and Social Analysis | Initial Poverty and Social Analysis | Jul 2020 |
| Navoi Solar Power Project: Draft Stakeholder Engagement Plan | Documents Produced Under Grant/Loans/TA | Jun 2020 |
Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.
| Title | Document Type | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| Navoi Solar Power Project: Environmental and Social Monitoring Report (June-December 2021) | Environmental and Social Monitoring Reports | Dec 2021 |
| Navoi Solar Power Plant: Environmental and Social Monitoring Report (January-June 2021) | Environmental and Social Monitoring Reports | Jun 2021 |
| Navoi Solar Power Project: Draft Initial Environmental Examination | Initial Environmental Examination | Jun 2020 |
Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation
None currently available.
Related Publications
None currently available.
The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.
Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.
ADB, NNS Sign Loans to Build Milestone Solar Power Project in Uzbekistan
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and “Nur Navoi Solar” Foreign Enterprise Limited Liability Company (NNS) signed loans of up to $17.5 million for a 100-megawatt (MW) solar power plant that will be the first public-private...