EBRD to provide $250 million loan to Uzbekistan for irrigation system modernization

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will extend a loan to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Water Resources for the modernization of pumping stations, the Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade reported.

At the sidelines of the Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF) 2025, the EBRD and Uzbekistan signed an agreement for a sovereign loan of up to $250 million to upgrade 110 irrigation pumping stations nationwide.

The project will cover 10 regions and contribute to the implementation of the national program for irrigation system modernization.

As a result, an annual reduction in electricity consumption of 251,000 MWh is expected, along with a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions by more than 117,000 tons.

Additionally, the project will include upgrades to related infrastructure, such as the installation of solar panels on the roofs of pumping stations.

Currently, the EBRD’s investment portfolio in Uzbekistan comprises 181 projects totaling €5.6 billion, with the majority of funds directed toward private sector development. Uzbekistan remains the largest recipient of EBRD investments in Central Asia for the fifth consecutive year.

In 2025, the EBRD plans to allocate an additional €1.1 billion to Uzbekistan. A significant portion of these funds will support the private sector, including small and medium-sized enterprises, women’s entrepreneurship, and startups in artificial intelligence and digital transformation.