ABU DHABI, 11th November, 2025 – Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar has officially signed a Battery Storage Service Agreement with JSC Uzenergosotish, Uzbekistan’s state-owned joint-stock company, to develop the country’s largest standalone battery energy storage (BESS) project.
Phase 1 of Uzbekistan’s National Battery Storage Programme
The Zarafshan BESS marks the first phase of a national battery storage initiative following Masdar’s December 2023 agreement with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade. The programme aims to develop up to 575 megawatts (MW) / 1.15 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of BESS capacity across Uzbekistan.
Phase 1 will have a storage capacity of 300MW / 600MWh, sufficient to power approximately 1.3 million households for two hours. It will connect to the Murunau Substation. A second phase of equal capacity is planned to expand the Zarafshan facility.
Once operational in the third quarter of 2028, the Zarafshan BESS will enhance Uzbekistan’s grid reliability and flexibility, supporting the nation’s target of generating 54 percent of power from renewable sources by 2030 while advancing long-term net-zero objectives.
Signatories and Witnesses
| Role | Name | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| Signatory | Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi | Masdar, Chief Executive Officer |
| Signatory | Jahongir Obidjonov | JSC Uzenergosotish, Chairman of the Board |
| Witness | Suhail Al Mazrouei | Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, UAE |
| Witness | Jurabek Mirzamahmudov | Minister of Energy, Uzbekistan |
Statements from Leaders
Suhail Al Mazrouei highlighted the strategic significance of the project, stating that the Zarafshan BESS will strengthen Uzbekistan’s grid resilience and facilitate renewable energy integration. He emphasized the collaboration as a reflection of strong UAE-Uzbekistan ties and shared commitment to global energy security and decarbonization.
Jurabek Mirzamahmudov noted the deepening strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and the UAE, citing previous joint projects including five solar plants totaling 1,247MW, a 500MW wind farm, a 63MW energy storage system, and an ongoing 300MW solar photovoltaic project. He added that the Zarafshan 300MW/600MWh BESS will significantly support grid integration of renewable energy and further development of Uzbekistan’s energy sector.
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi described the Zarafshan BESS as a key milestone in Uzbekistan’s energy transition and a demonstration of Masdar’s global leadership in battery storage. Jahongir Obidjonov expressed satisfaction with the partnership and its contribution to Uzbekistan’s green energy goals.
Masdar’s Ongoing Commitment in Uzbekistan
The Zarafshan BESS complements Masdar’s existing footprint in Uzbekistan, which currently includes around 2GW of clean energy capacity with investments exceeding US$2 billion. Masdar plans to develop over 2GW of additional capacity, alongside the Zarafshan facility expansion, supporting Uzbekistan’s 20GW renewable energy target by 2030 and Masdar’s global 100GW ambition.
Globally, Masdar is advancing large-scale energy storage innovation. In October, the company began construction on the world’s first gigascale 24/7 solar and battery storage project in Abu Dhabi, integrating a 5.2GW solar plant with a 19GWh BESS to deliver 1GW of baseload renewable power, set to be the largest and most technologically advanced system of its kind worldwide.