Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  Uzbekistan plans to construct eight waste-to-energy plants to generate electricity.

Agreements for cooperation have been signed between the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, the Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Energy, as well as six major companies from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

During a visit to the Central Asian University for Environmental Studies and Climate Change (Green University), President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed projects focused on solid waste recycling, electricity generation, and product manufacturing. He emphasized the social significance of these initiatives and instructed to make these projects exemplary and increase their number in the regions.

As a result, in 11 regions of the country, with the involvement of companies from China and the UAE, plants will be built to generate electricity from the incineration of solid household waste.

The total cost of the projects is estimated at US$1.28 billion. It is projected that the incineration of over 4.7 million tons of waste per year will produce 2.1 billion kWh of electricity valued at US$97 million, while also reducing the number of landfills by five times. This will save 152 million cubic meters of natural gas and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2.4 million tons, creating 1,200 new jobs.

The implementation of these projects is planned for 2025-2027 in the Andijan, Bukhara, Jizzakh, Kashkadarya, Navoi, Namangan, Samarkand, Syrdarya, Fergana, and Tashkent regions, as well as in Tashkent city. Construction is set to begin in January 2025, with the plants expected to be commissioned by December 2026.

In Tashkent and Andijan regions, two plants will be built based on a project by the Chinese company China CAMC Engineering. Each plant will cost US$350 million, enabling the thermal disposal of 1.38 million tons of waste annually and producing 630 million kWh of electricity, which will supply energy to 36,000 households.

In Samarkand and Kashkadarya regions, two plants will also be constructed under a project by the Chinese company Shanghai SUS Environment. Each plant will cost US$310 million and is projected to thermally process 1.095 million tons of waste per year, generating 480 million kWh of electricity for 27,000 households, while creating 300 jobs.

In Namangan and Fergana regions, two plants will be built based on a project by China Everbright Group, each costing US$283 million. This project will enable the thermal disposal of 1.095 million tons of waste and produce 455 million kWh of electricity, providing energy to 26,000 households.

In the Jizzakh region, a plant costing US$135 million will be built under a project by Chengdu Environmental Group to produce construction materials and electricity. It will thermally process 547,500 tons of waste annually and generate 230 million kWh of electricity for 13,000 households.

In the Bukhara region, a waste incineration plant costing US$200 million will be constructed under a project by UAE’s Tadweer Group. This plant will process 547,500 tons of waste per year, generating 363 million kWh of electricity, supplying energy to 21,000 households.

In Tashkent region, a plant will be built under a project by the Korean company Sejin, costing US$55 million, which will process waste to produce alternative energy.