Uzbekistan to allocate $3B to mitigate consequences of Aral Sea disaster

The total cost of these projects exceeds $3.05 billion. The list includes 23 national projects with the total cost of $2.972 billion and eight regional projects totaling $80.2 million in accordance with the decree ‘On measures to implement the agreements reached during the international conference entitled ‘Development of Cooperation in the Aral Sea Basin to Mitigate Consequences of Environmental Catastrophe'". Plans are to finance the projects with preferential long-term loans totaling $1.9 billion and technical assistance funds worth of $200 million attracted from the international and foreign governmental financial institutions, as well as with funds of the Uzbek side. The Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, the World Bank, JICA, OPEC Fund for International Development, (OFID), Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) , K-Water (South Korea), UN agencies and others will take part in co-financing of the projects, Trend reports. The largest projects are: the construction of two combined-cycle plants with the capacity of 230 - 280 megawatt each at Takhiatash thermal power plant (project cost - $ 710.2 million), project for modernization of Amu-Bukhara main canal ($402.1 million), and reconstruction of sections of Guzar-Bukhara-Nukus-Beineu highway (A-380) ($356 million). The list also includes the projects on creating shelterbelts on the dried bottom of the Aral Sea, activities for the development of high-yielding horticulture, several projects for the development and modernization of water supply systems, as well as small business and private entrepreneurship support projects in the region.