Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP advised the government of Uzbekistan on an agreement to develop the country’s first solar project, a key part of a plan to diversify its power mix with renewable energy.

The government signed an agreement with UAE-based power developer Masdar to develop a 100-megawatt solar-power project in the Navoiy region under the International Finance Corporation’s Scaling Solar project. It is the first public-private partnership in the country.

Hunton has represented Uzbekistan and IFC on the Scaling Solar program since 2018. The project, which is expected to be completed in 2021, will serve as the catalyst for the development of solar power in the country.

In addition to the firm’s work in Uzbekistan, the firm advised IFC on the Scaling Solar program in Zambia and recently was engaged to advise IFC on a second round of the program in Uzbekistan as well as the development of a solar project in Kosovo, where the firm has worked on power matters since 2007.

Partners John Beardsworth, Bill Newton and Ryan Ketchum and associates Ben Cooper and Sevren Gourley are involved in the firm’s representation of IFC and the government of Uzbekistan.