Important Video Conference
17.03.2025
On March 17, 2025 President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a video conference meeting on improving drinking water supply, heating services, the improvement of neighborhoods, and agriculture. This meeting marked an important step in this direction. Specific tasks in these areas were outlined during the session. The meeting discussed key issues in the utilities sector and agriculture.
Particular attention was given to the issue of drinking water. This year, it is planned to lay 1,619 kilometers of water supply networks, 521 kilometers of sewage networks, as well as construct and reconstruct 162 infrastructure facilities. As a result, 715,000 people will have access to clean drinking water for the first time, 135,000 households will be connected to the sewage system, and 157,000 consumers will receive modern water meters.
As part of the recent visit of the head of state to France, agreements were reached on the implementation of three water supply projects in Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya regions worth 340 million euros. In particular, the French company Suez will take over the private management of the drinking water supply system in Denau, Shurchi, Saryasiya, and Kumkurgan. It is expected that, thanks to this, the coverage of centralized water supply in the region will reach 90 percent.
The importance of expanding such private partnerships and increasing the opportunities for domestic companies to participate in international tenders was highlighted. Another key task is the digitization of the industry.
It is planned to attract 125 million dollars from the Asian Development Bank. Over the next five years, 4,800 "smart" meters and 2,800 telemetry systems will be installed on large hydraulic structures and main pipelines.
This is expected to create a significant market for the electrical engineering industry. It was instructed to gradually transfer the servicing of meters to the private sector.
On March 11, the President signed a decree on a radical reform in this sector and improving energy efficiency. According to the decree, a unified company "Issiklik Ta'minoti" was created, which includes 23 organizations involved in heating services in the regions. Over the next five years, 19 trillion sums will be allocated for the restoration and modernization of heating systems. As a result, the coverage of centralized heating will increase from 37 to 58 percent.
Rakhimboy Jumaniyazov,
Professor at "TIIAME" National Research University,
member of the Union of Writers and Journalists of Uzbekistan
University Press Service