By Anton Usov

The European Bank for Reconstruction (EBRD) is contributing to industrial and residential energy efficiency in Uzbekistan and Central Asia by supporting Ecoclimat Group (Ecoclimat), the region’s only producer of glass wool, as the firm expands production capacity.

An EBRD loan of US$ 5 million will help the company launch Angren Insulation, a greenfield manufacturing facility for the production of glass-wool insulation materials. The plant will be located in a free economic zone near the country’s capital, Tashkent.

The new production facility will allow Ecoclimat to raise its total annual production capacity of insulation materials to around 32,000 tonnes. This will help the company meet growing demand for mineral-wool insulation products and provide energy-efficient solutions for heating and cooling in a region that is known for its harsh climate.

The project will promote green investment in Uzbekistan as glass wool efficiently reduces energy demand in buildings. Angren Insulation will also use recycled glass known as cullet as the key raw material for the production of glass wool. Glass wool is a carbon-neutral construction component, with a service life that usually exceeds 15 years.

Once operational, the new Angren plant will help reduce annual CO2 emissions by 85,000 tonnes.

To date, the EBRD has invested almost €2.6 billion(US$3.02billion) in 101 projects in Uzbekistan.