ADB and Acwa sign USD116 mln deal to expand wind power in Uzbekistan

The financing includes 50 million US dollars from ADB’s ordinary capital resources, 41 million US dollars mobilized from commercial lenders, with ADB as lead arranger, and 25 million US dollars from the Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund 2 (LEAP 2).

ADB also acts as environmental and social coordinator for parallel lenders including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Standard Chartered.

The new facility, Bash 2, extends the Bash Wind Power Project co-financed in 2023. It will feature 39 turbines (up to 8 MW each), a 35/500 kV substation, and transmission lines connecting to the national grid.

“The Bash 2 Wind Power Project expands Uzbekistan’s clean energy capacity, supports grid stability, reduces carbon emissions, and creates quality jobs,” said Isabel Chatterton, ADB’s Private Sector Operations Director General.

The project is expected to generate 800 jobs during construction and at least 25 permanent operational positions.

Acwa CFO Abdulhameed AlMuhaidib emphasized that Bash 2 strengthens Acwa’s partnership with Uzbekistan and showcases the value of public–private partnerships in delivering cost‑competitive clean energy.

Acwa, valued at about 35 billion US dollars, is a global leader in power generation, desalination, and green hydrogen. ADB has previously financed several of Acwa’s renewable projects in Uzbekistan, including the 500‑MW Bash and Dzhankeldy wind farms, the 200‑MW Nukus 2 Wind and Battery Energy Storage Project, and the Samarkand solar PV and BESS projects.

LEAP 2, managed by ADB with support from Japan’s JICA, focuses on sustainable infrastructure that reduces emissions and improves energy efficiency across Asia.

To note, ADB launched initiative to build Asia’s critical minerals supply chains.