IFC vice president: Central Asia, Uzbekistan included, suits geothermal heating and cooling

In an opinion article, Hela Cheikhrouhou says the region’s subsurface suits geothermal technologies and that the IFC supports shallow geothermal projects there.

8 May 2024

34 jobs

per megawatt of geothermal capacity, the article says

An opinion article by Hela Cheikhrouhou, IFC Regional Vice President for the Middle East, Central Asia, Türkiye, Afghanistan and Pakistan, argues for geothermal heating and cooling in Central Asia. UzDaily published it on 8 May 2024.

It says the subsurface of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan is suitable for geothermal technologies for heating and cooling buildings, and that the region still depends heavily on coal.

The article cites about 34 jobs per megawatt of installed geothermal capacity, against 19 for wind and 12 for solar, and says the IFC supports shallow geothermal projects in the region.

Sources

More news

Policy14 October 2026

Greenhouses that heat with heat pumps or geothermal energy get half their winter power bill covered

A presidential resolution signed on 13 October pays 50% of October–March electricity costs for greenhouses with green heating from 1 November 2026, alongside equipment grants, cheap loans and tax breaks.

Visitors among poster boards at a research showcase

Research2 October 2026

First fibre-optic seismic profiles from a Leeds campus borehole

The data are usable, but the method so far detects aquifer warming only above about 25 °C, Shohruh Boqijonov reports.

Uzbek and Chinese representatives at a meeting table with national flags

Partnerships2 October 2026

Uzbekistan’s heat-supply company discusses geothermal systems with a Harbin university

Issiqlik ta’minoti presented 12 priority projects planned with foreign investors and discussed adapting geothermal systems to Uzbek conditions.

Uzbek and French specialists at a round table

Partnerships24 September 2026

Round table with BRGM on heating Fergana Valley cities with geothermal water

Uzbek hydrogeologists and French specialists discussed using geothermal water as a source of heat for cities of the Fergana Valley.

All news