Uzbekistan turns to South Korea for heat, bioenergy push
Projects in Zarafshan, Jizzakh, and Tashkent highlight growing South Korean investment in Uzbekistan’s push for efficient, renewable power
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (MNTV) — Uzbekistan is moving to deepen energy ties with South Korea as officials discuss joint projects aimed at modernizing the country’s heating infrastructure and expanding renewable energy solutions.
Uzbekistan’s investment Minister Laziz Kudratov met with a delegation from the Korea District Heating Corporation (KDHC), the state-owned utility that serves more than two million households across South Korea.
According to Daryo News, the two sides highlighted energy efficiency and sustainable development as priorities for collaboration, underscoring South Korea’s role as one of Uzbekistan’s largest investors.
The talks focused on three major initiatives. The first involves upgrading the heat supply system in the mining city of Zarafshan, where aging infrastructure has long limited efficiency. The second centers on building a bioenergy complex in Jizzakh, a region with growing demand for industrial energy.
The third project is tied to “New Tashkent,” a planned expansion of the capital designed to integrate modern energy and urban planning solutions.
Uzbekistan’s officials emphasized the importance of exploring public–private partnership models to finance the projects. For KDHC, the venture represents an opportunity to extend its decades of experience in cogeneration, district heating, and renewables to Central Asia.
Founded in 1985, the corporation has become a cornerstone of South Korea’s energy system, linking production and distribution through a vast national network.
South Korea has already invested more than $7.7 billion in Uzbekistan, spanning chemicals, textiles, agriculture, mining, healthcare, and education. More than 700 Korean companies currently operate in the country, contributing to projects such as a textile technopark, a rare metals research center, and modernization of e-commerce systems.
Analysts say the proposed heating and bioenergy ventures could provide Uzbekistan with more reliable winter energy supply, while also reducing dependence on imported fuels. If successful, they would also highlight South Korea’s growing role in shaping Central Asia’s transition toward more efficient and sustainable energy systems.
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