Uzbekistan will prohibit the construction of new industrial facilities that negatively impact the environment in Tashkent and other major cities. The new regulations, outlined in a presidential decree, will take effect in May 2025, according to Gazeta.uz.
Authorities will stop issuing environmental permits for hazardous industrial enterprises. The measure aims to improve air quality in Tashkent, Nukus, and regional centers.
The ban specifically targets ferrous and non-ferrous metal production, cement, asbestos, slag and sludge processing, and waste incineration plants handling Class I and II hazardous materials. Additionally, any coal-burning facilitieswithout high-efficiency dust and gas filtration systems will be restricted.
By autumn 2024, the government will review plans to relocate existing polluting industries outside major urban areas. This includes high-energy-consuming enterprises, with 168 industrial sites identified for potential relocation.
Before moving these factories, the government must develop new infrastructure, including roads, water, gas, and electricity networks in designated areas.
In 2023, Uzbekistan’s 7,000+ industrial enterprises generated 125.6 million tons of waste and released 800,000 tons of emissions, accounting for 43% of total pollution in the country.
