After more than two years of upgrades, three old hydropower stations in Uzbekistan were revitalized in 2020 and reconnected to the grid. This was a key energy cooperation project between China and Uzbekistan under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. The completion of the hydropower stations has eased the local electricity shortage, improved living standards and created employment opportunities for locals. The press secretary for the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan said that China's innovative technology has greatly improved Uzbekistan's hydropower energy supply.