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Kazancı Holding plans to invest about $200 million in Uzbekistan's electricity distribution sector over the next two years, expanding beyond power generation into grid operations. The company's Aksa Elektrik unit already operates the distribution network in the Samarkand region under a 30-year concession and is looking at three more regions.

Chair Cemil Kazancı discussed the plans with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during the first meeting of the Council of Investors in the Fuel and Energy Sector, held in Tashkent. The talks covered existing investments, new cooperation opportunities and projects to modernize the country's electricity infrastructure.

Meeting in Tashkent

Cemil Kazancı, chair of Kazancı Holding's board, met Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the inaugural session of the Council of Investors in the Fuel and Energy Sector in Tashkent, according to a company statement.

The discussion covered the holding's current investments in Uzbekistan's energy sector, prospects for new cooperation and projects aimed at modernizing the country's electricity infrastructure. Mirziyoyev voiced support for extending the electricity distribution partnership that began in Samarkand to new regions, and welcomed the holding's plan to build schools in every region where it invests.

Generation and distribution footprint

Aksa Enerji, part of the holding, runs plants in Tashkent, Bukhara and Talimarjan, reaching a combined installed capacity of 1,220 megawatts in the country. Kazancı Holding has put more than $700 million into those facilities to date.

Aksa Elektrik, the group's distribution company, took over the operation of the Samarkand regional electricity grid for 30 years after winning an international tender and is now preparing to start operations in new distribution areas.

Planned distribution spending

Options for running distribution operations in three additional regions are under review. Together with Samarkand, that would make four regions where roughly $200 million is expected to be invested in the distribution sector over the next two years.

The money is earmarked for modernizing distribution networks, raising operational efficiency and delivering more reliable, uninterrupted power to consumers.

Kazancı on long-term plans

Kazancı said Uzbekistan holds a strategic place in the holding's global, long-term plans. "President Mirziyoyev's reform vision and the strong ties between Türkiye and Uzbekistan provide a solid basis for us to deepen our investments," Kazancı said, adding that the group would combine its generation presence with its distribution expertise in the new period.

Kazancı also said the holding aims to build the Uzbek counterparts of schools it donated to Türkiye's national education system, supporting social development alongside energy supply security and sustainable growth.

Key takeaways

• Kazancı Holding plans about $200 million of investment in Uzbekistan's electricity distribution sector over the next two years, covering Samarkand and three further regions under review.
• Aksa Enerji has reached 1,220 megawatts of installed capacity in Tashkent, Bukhara and Talimarjan, backed by more than $700 million of investment.
• Aksa Elektrik operates the Samarkand grid under a 30-year concession won through an international tender.
• Chair Cemil Kazancı discussed the expansion with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the first meeting of the Council of Investors in the Fuel and Energy Sector in Tashkent.