Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy has signed a $1.2bn deal with Dutch-registered company Stone City Energy for a gas turbine power plant.

Reuters reported that the company will be responsible for designing, financing, building, commissioning, operating and managing the 1,560MW power plant for a period of 25 years.

The government has allocated 150ha of land area for the plant in the Angora district of the Surkhandarya region in south-east Uzbekistan.

The plant is expected to come online by the end of 2024.

Energy Minister Alisher Sultanov told media sources: “The agreements signed with Stone City Energy are yet another example of Uzbekistan working with international partners for the benefit of the country.

“Due to the country’s economic growth, and the growing needs of the population, we need to fulfil future energy demand. We look forward to working closely with Stone City in the years to come.”

Founded in 2019, Stone City Energy is a special-purpose company operating in the electricity generation and distribution fields.

The government is separately discussing the construction of Uzbekistan’s first pumped storage power plant with Electricite de France.

Last week, the Ministry of Energy signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Siemens Energy, agreeing a roadmap for future joint projects between the two entities.

The MoU was signed by Sultanov and Siemens Energy president Christian Bruch.

Sultanov said: “Uzbekistan is continuing its momentum of working with best-in-class international partners, to deliver on our energy strategy.

“We are aiming to lead the hydrocarbon-producing world in meeting our climate management commitments. Siemens is globally renowned and we look forward to deepening our relationship.”