SEOUL, KOREA - Korea and Uzbekistan are joining forces to develop the solar energy industry.
The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the joint development of the solar energy industry, in Seoul on December 19. Uzbekistan has abundant sunlight with wide open spaces and by 2030 aims to build the capacity to generate 4 gigawatts of power from solar energy.
Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Yoon Sang-jick (left) and Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Azimov, who is also the country`s finance minister, sign and then display the solar power industry development MOU. (photos courtesy of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy)
The Asia Development Bank selected Uzbekistan as one of its Asia Solar Energy Initiative assistance recipients and is supporting the Central Asian nation in establishing an international solar power research institute. It will also participate in the feasibility study of six locations for solar power plants and host an Asian Solar Energy Forum. Among the six potential sites for the solar power plants, the first is being planned near the city of Samarkand. There is an ongoing project there to build a 100-megawatt solar power plant and there will be an international competition to determine the builder of the plants in early 2014.
With the signing of the MOU, Korea will help build and operate a solar energy demonstration center and provide technology and training. The two sides will also form a joint taskforce within one month composed of government ministries, research institutions and related businesses, and discuss various issues regarding the demonstration center, including its location and size. The center will be responsible for developing an optimal solar power plant model for Uzbekistan using Korean technologies.
*Article provided by Cheong Wa Dae
