Masdar to develop 500MW wind project in Uzbekistan

Abu Dhabi’s clean energy company Masdar signed a power purchase agreement with the government of Uzbekistan to design, finance, build and operate a 500 megawatt, utility-scale wind project.

The wind farm will be built in the in the Zarafshon district of the Navoi region and commercial operations are targeted to start in 2024. Masdar did not disclose the total investment in the project.

“The wind farm supports Uzbekistan’s long-term renewable energy ambitions and its strong commitment to not only modernise its power sector, but also invest in energy security,” Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, chief executive of Masdar said.

This is the second project for Masdar in the central Asian republic. In November last year, it signed an agreement to develop the country’s first public-private partnership solar power plant in the Navoi region with a total investment of $100 million (Dh367m). Masdar submitted the lowest bid of 2.679 US cents per kilowatt hour in the programme’s competitive auction to win the 100 megawatt capacity project.

“Masdar is our long-term trusted partner in expanding our renewable energy capacities and bringing their well-known international expertise to the country,” said Uzbekistan’s deputy prime minister Sardor Umurzakov.

Uzbekistan is aiming to develop 5 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030.

Masdar, fully owned by Mubadala Investment Company, is a major player in the renewable energy sector across the globe.

The power generating capacity of renewable energy projects in which Masdar is a partner exceeds 5 gigawatts, representing a combined investment of approximately $14.3 billion spanning more than 30 countries.

Earlier this year, Masdar signed a deal in neighbouring Azerbaijan to develop, build and operate a 200 megawatt solar PV project located 75 kilometres southwest of Baku.

The company also agreed to develop its first venture in South-East Asia – a 145 megawatt floating solar photovoltaic plant for Indonesia’s state electricity company, Perusahaan Listrik Negara.

Masdar is also aiming to expand its operations in Africa.

The company agreed to establish a joint venture with Egypt’s Infinity Energy to develop renewable energy projects. The new firm, named Infinity Power, will develop utility-scale solar and wind power projects for clean energy generation across Africa.

Renewable energy projects are gaining traction across the world as costs reduce due to advancements in technology. Around half of renewable energy capacity added in 2019 was cheaper than the least expensive coal plants, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Solar photovoltaic energy saw the steepest declines in cost between 2010 and 2019, declining 82 per cent, while concentrated solar power fell 47 per cent, according to Irena.

The cost of deploying wind projects also fell during this period, with onshore wind declining 47 per cent, while offshore wind schemes were 29 per cent cheaper.

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.	United States
2.	China
3.	UAE
4.	Japan
5	Norway
6.	Canada
7.	Singapore
8.	Australia
9.	Saudi Arabia
10.	South Korea

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem

Rating: 4/5

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IF YOU GO

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The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info

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AT4 Ultimate, as tested

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The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

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Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013

The specs

Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo

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On sale: December

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New UK refugee system

A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE