Tashkent’s Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Jeopardy
Electric vehicle charging stations in Uzbekistan are facing dismantling orders from the Cadastre Agency after being disconnected last week. The agency has sent letters to business owners, citing unauthorized land use as the reason for the orders. Despite the willingness of the private sector to comply with regulations, the agency has not proposed any solutions, leaving the situation unresolved.
The Ministry of Energy clarified that they had not issued any orders to disconnect the stations. The state-owned Regional Electric Networks also denied responsibility, stating that only consumers with outstanding debts were being disconnected.
Companies in the charging station market have expressed concerns about the situation. They reported that their stations were disconnected due to outstanding electricity bills, even though they had made advance payments for the coming months. This has led to serious inconveniences for electric vehicle drivers, especially during the winter months.
Entrepreneurs in the electric vehicle charging sector are not only facing power disconnections but also the potential loss of their stations. They have received letters from the Cadastre Agency demanding the dismantling of the stations, citing illegal land occupation. Failure to comply could result in legal action under the Administrative Code.
The Cadastre Agency stated that the charging stations were installed in areas allocated for other purposes, leading to the illegal land use. Despite efforts to inquire about legal procedures for resolving the issue, there has been no response from the agency.
According to a presidential decree and a government resolution, there are plans to expand infrastructure for the use of electric vehicles in Uzbekistan. Starting in 2024, newly constructed shopping centers, businesses, entertainment facilities, and other infrastructure must include electric vehicle charging stations in their designs. Additionally, over 32,000 charging stations are set to be installed across Uzbekistan by the end of 2025.
