ODAŞ, which has investments in energy generation both in Türkiye and in various other countries, is one of the companies that stands out with its engineering capabilities. Our investments in Uzbekistan, in particular, are a concrete example of this approach. The relocation project, which involved dismantling our combined-cycle power plants in Urfa, Türkiye, and transporting them to Uzbekistan, was technically very challenging yet equally instructive. Today, our total installed capacity in Uzbekistan stands at 1.8 GW. Relocation projects aren’t easy; engineering expertise is the most decisive factor at this point.Artificial intelligence is on everyone’s agenda today. However, the topic is often discussed as if it were limited to the use of tools such as ChatGPT. In reality, the true value of artificial intelligence emerges through accurate and reliable data. Without data, you can’t do anything; but you also need to be able to determine whether the data you have is accurate. For this reason, it is essential for companies to design their data architecture very carefully. These are also managerial decisions. Today, all companies receive consultancy on these matters and try to create a roadmap.
The model we implement in Uzbekistan is a predictive maintenance approach. In the traditional understanding, it is said that “this piece of equipment will require maintenance in two years,” and that schedule is followed.
However, the issue is not limited to operating hours alone. When wear rates, humidity changes, and many environmental factors are evaluated together, it becomes possible to predict when that equipment will truly need maintenance. Decisions on whether a component should be replaced on a given day are made by looking at the bigger picture. As a manager, making these decisions based on the data provided by artificial intelligence creates a significant difference. Even if a single part of the system is operating, this data is necessary to ensure that the process continues safely.
By using these tools, we are genuinely operating the most efficient power plant in Uzbekistan. These efforts are not individual achievements but the result of collective work. The contribution of our team members is substantial. Artificial intelligence applications can be used not only in maintenance but also in many different areas. However, not every application is always financially viable.In some cases, countries or companies that start investing later can sometimes move faster at lower cost. The United States and China are examples of this. A similar picture can be observed when comparing Türkiye and Uzbekistan. In Uzbekistan, establishing systems from scratch in areas with limited infrastructure can create certain opportunities. Türkiye, on the other hand, has a very valuable human capital.
We are talking about a transformation that requires; regulations, civil society organizations, and the private sector to act together. This process needs to function both top-down and bottom-up.
However, changing an established system is not easy. Saying “we are moving to a digital twin” may entail additional investment costs and workload. At this point, what needs to be done is to clearly demonstrate the benefits it will deliver. Questions such as how many years it will take for productivity gains to pay back, and how ready the human resources are for this transformation, must be answered.
One of the most critical elements for all these systems to function is infrastructure. We cannot carry out this transformation without upgrading transmission and distribution lines. You talk about microgrids, and within this complex structure, without making the necessary changes and without undertaking major infrastructure investments, no country will be able to advance as far as it desires in this field. The European Union is making significant investments in this area. Not only new transmission lines, but existing transmission lines also need to be upgraded.
In order to use artificial intelligence in this field, transmission lines must become smart and capable of data collection. There is currently no concrete investment in this area yet, but it is one of the topics we consider indispensable. This process will progress with government support. Transmission lines are still largely under public control worldwide. After preliminary studies are completed, access to the end consumer will be addressed jointly.
Carbon management and sustainability have now become indispensable topics. As ODAŞ, we take these issues very seriously in both our investments in Türkiye and Uzbekistan. While contributing to employment in Uzbekistan, we also create a foundation for more efficient and higher-quality production in areas such as agriculture. In a sense, these investments function as living laboratories; however, at this stage, we are not pursuing commercialization objectives. The region needs to be ready for this. We view these efforts as contributions to the economies and sustainable futures of the countries we operate in, and we manage all our investments with this perspective.
