EBRD irrigation investment in Uzbekistan has reached a major milestone, with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development committing up to $250 million to modernize the country’s irrigation infrastructure.
The funding, provided as a sovereign loan to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Water Resources, will support the upgrade of 110 pumping stations across 10 regions. These energy-efficient, modern pumps are expected to save around 251,000 MWh of electricity and reduce annual CO₂ emissions by over 117,000 tonnes.
Along with the pump upgrades, the EBRD’s financing will also cover infrastructure refurbishment and the installation of rooftop solar panels—further boosting energy efficiency.
This initiative is part of Uzbekistan’s national irrigation modernization programme, which aims to cut energy use by 25% and introduce water-saving technologies to nearly half of the country’s irrigated farmland. Given Uzbekistan’s dependence on irrigation due to low annual rainfall, these improvements are critical to sustaining agriculture and food security.
The EBRD continues to play a leading role in Uzbekistan’s green transition, having invested nearly €5.6 billion in 181 projects, mostly supporting private enterprise. For five years running, Uzbekistan has been the Bank’s top investment destination in Central Asia.