Empowering Business through Green Energy in Uzbekistan

Kamron Baraka LLC, founded and managed by Mukambar Usmonova, operates two cafés in the busy Urikzor market in Tashkent. For years, long power outages caused significant disruptions for her business’s operations — food spoiled, customers left, and employees lost income. Gas use in the market is restricted, making electricity the only available energy source for daily operations.

To overcome these challenges, Ms. Usmonova turned to Ipak Yuli Bank, a partner of the EBRD Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF), for financing the purchase and installation of a 40 kW rooftop solar system.

Thanks to this investment, Kamron Baraka LLC now enjoys a stable and reliable electricity supply, ensuring uninterrupted work of refrigerators, kitchen appliances, and lighting — all vital for café operations. As a result, the business can now run smoothly, maintain consistent product quality, and ensure employees receive their salaries on time. This stability allowed Ms. Usmonova to strengthen the overall resilience of her business.

Beyond meeting essential business needs, the investment also led to a positive environmental effect. The solar panels reduce annual electricity consumption by 668 GJ and cut CO₂ emissions by 27.6 tonnes. This reduction equals the CO₂ absorbed by more than 450 trees, and corresponds to the yearly electricity use of around 20 Uzbek households. In this way, Mukambar Usmonova’s decision not only stabilized her cafés’ operations but also contributed to Uzbekistan’s transition toward cleaner, greener energy.

Encouraged by the success of her solar project, Ms. Usmonova is already planning her next step.

“My next dream is to open a small coffee shop with desserts in the city. I plan to invest in more energy-efficient equipment. Sustainability is now at the core of everything we do. To all women who dream of building their own green business — do not be afraid. Believe in yourself, be persistent, and success will follow.”

The Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) in Uzbekistan was developed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and is supported by the Canada through the EBRD’s High- Impact Partnership on Climate Action – HIPCA, the Climate Investment Fund and the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (Project Donors).

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