The construction of a waste processing and power generation plant in the Karshi district of Kashkadarya region, Uzbekistan, is nearing completion. This project is valued at 150 million US dollars and is capable of processing up to 1000 tons of municipal solid waste daily.
Annually, about 14 million tons of municipal waste are generated in Uzbekistan, with approximately 930,000 tons generated only in the Kashkadarya region. The goal of this facility is to process garbage, reduce its negative impact on the environment, and produce electricity.
The construction is being carried out with the involvement of foreign direct investment. The plant occupies an eight-hectare site and is designed to process about 1000 tons of waste per day, which equates to approximately 45,000 tons monthly.
Electricity generation will be achieved through the processing and incineration of municipal solid waste. According to available data, the plant's capacity will be 45,000 kWh per hour, and the annual electricity generation will exceed 240 million kWh.
Modern recycling technologies and advanced filtration systems are being implemented during construction. Project participants assert that this technology prevents the emission of toxic gases into the atmosphere. A monitoring system is operational at the site, and the regional environmental department monitors emissions from the smokestacks.
Work is progressing at an accelerated pace with the participation of about 30 units of modern equipment and over 300 specialists from local and Chinese countries. Approximately 20 local experts are already working alongside international colleagues to gain experience and operational knowledge.
It is planned that within the next five years, 80%–90% of the jobs at the facility will be filled by local employees. After the object launches, local specialists plan to undergo training in China.
The project includes four main phases, a significant part of which has already been completed. Equipment and filtration systems supplied from China have been installed. Measures to prevent groundwater contamination have also been integrated into the implementation process.
The total cost of this project and a similar one under construction in the Samarkand region reaches 400 million US dollars.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) expressed serious concern over deficiencies in the Green India Mission program, noting that the goal of increasing forest cover was far from being achieved over the past decade. The audit revealed significant issues in financial control and planning that undermined the mission's set objectives.
According to the report, the observed increase in forest cover under the Green India Mission (GIM) for the period from 2015-16 to 2024-25 was significantly lower than planned, lagging by almost 98%. The CAG pointed out numerous shortcomings in the implementation of this national program aimed at improving and increasing green cover.
Furthermore, it was observed that key vulnerable areas did not receive adequate attention during afforestation activities, which weakens efforts to combat climate change.
Every day, millions of liters of contaminated water flow through numerous rivers in South Africa, eventually reaching the sea. The Stibeuwel River in Franschhoek, a small tributary located about 75 kilometers east of Cape Town, is heavily polluted. This pollution stems from inadequate sewage and drainage systems serving the nearby informal settlement of Langrug, where wastewater and contaminated rainwater are discharged.
Langrug is home to approximately 26,000 people living in densely populated housing, where outdated and overloaded infrastructure cannot cope with the demand. A water resources researcher from the University of Cape Town's Institute for Future Water and the director of the Water Hub research center in Franschhoek are part of a group of scientists who work more closely with nature, studying its methods for water purification and reuse.
Research at Water Hub takes place at an old, abandoned treatment facility. This site is being transformed into a living laboratory to demonstrate ways to convert highly contaminated water into a safe resource without using chemical additives.
In a recent scientific paper, the authors described the results of a project to install natural filtration systems to clean the Stibeuwel River. Old drying beds, previously used for sludge dewatering at the former treatment plant, were utilized. These beds were filled with fine gravel, biochar (a wood byproduct heated at 800 degrees Celsius), and coarse sand.
The contaminated river water slowly passes through these filtration beds, allowing for the removal of pollutants such as bacteria and nutrients. After about five days, the water becomes clean enough for irrigation. The study demonstrated the high efficiency of this method: the naturally purified water consistently showed no E. coli bacteria, indicating the absence of human or animal waste contamination.
Furthermore, the system removed between 85% and 95% of ammonia and phosphorus, which pollute rivers and reservoirs. These contaminants remain in the filtration beds, where naturally present microbes feed on them and break down most of the pollution. Plants also absorb excess nutrients, such as ammonia and phosphorus, aiding in water purification before it is returned to the river or used for irrigation.
Nature-based systems cannot entirely replace fully functional treatment plants due to the large volume of urban runoff. However, the findings are significant because they show that natural water purification systems, which do not require electricity or expensive equipment, can assist municipalities facing rising energy costs, deteriorating infrastructure, and limited technical skills.
Natural wastewater treatment helps communities utilize limited water resources more effectively. In regions affected by drought and climate change, it provides a local source of clean water that can be reused for agriculture and other needs.
The Stibeuwel River, studied by researchers, is so polluted that local residents can no longer use it. The area, once suitable for swimming in its upper reaches, has turned into a solid waste dump. The river also carries excessive levels of E. coli bacteria; its concentration exceeds 400,000 colony-forming units per 100 ml. According to South African water quality guidelines, people should not come into contact with water where E. coli levels are above 130 units per 100 ml.
The water also contains high levels of ammonia and phosphorus from household cleaning products, which can trigger massive algal blooms. These algae turn lakes and slow-moving rivers green and deprive them of oxygen. Additionally, microplastics and traces of pharmaceuticals have been detected. The result is a slow but steady decline in water quality, increased municipal costs for treatment, and growing pressure on already scarce freshwater reserves.
Water contaminated with sewage is typically treated using energy-intensive methods, including chemical disinfection. However, the large biofiltration system constructed by the researchers does not require this. Water is pumped from the Stibeuwel River into a 10,000-liter reservoir and then fed into two holding tanks that supply the biofilter—the natural filtration system.
The design used in the project mimics the natural process of water purification found in healthy wetlands. The study showed that this system:
Approximately 50,000 liters of contaminated water are cleaned daily. About 3,000 liters per day are used to irrigate vegetable gardens managed by young women from the informal settlement. These gardens provide opportunities for skill development, food production experience, and small business creation. The remaining water is discharged back into the river, which plays a vital role as clean water sustains the life of river ecosystems and vegetation, which in turn purify the water flowing downstream.
Water Hub demonstrates how wastewater can be treated and reused near its source, rather than relying on large centralized treatment facilities. This localized approach can be replicated in other communities. Decentralizing water treatment facilitates improved water quality in areas where municipal services are declining.
Creating such a natural system is relatively inexpensive. Maintenance costs and the skills required for basic operation are minimal. Nevertheless, the system requires personnel for regular water quality monitoring and adjustments when necessary, such as slowing or speeding up water flow or responding to changes in weather or pollution levels.
The research indicates that combining science, engineering, and community involvement can lead to the creation of productive assets capable of supporting food production, generating income, and strengthening water security. It also demonstrates how decentralized water infrastructure can simultaneously support livelihoods, showing that wastewater should no longer be viewed merely as waste, but as a valuable resource that needs restoration and reuse. In African countries, where clean and safe water is becoming one of the most precious resources, learning to work with nature, rather than against it, may prove to be one of the wisest investments.
}, 3.President Shavkat Mirziyoyev received a report on efforts to ensure stable energy supplies in the regions, based on experience gained within the framework of the 'Yangiyul' program. After reviewing this report, he ordered the dissemination of this approach to all districts of the country, according to the press service of the President of Uzbekistan.
Previously, the task was set to create a pilot model in 14 districts, one in each region. This work was carried out at the mahalla level, where specialists assessed the state of energy infrastructure, identified existing problems, and took targeted measures directly on site.
During this work, 916 mahallas, 832,000 households, 49,000 enterprises, and over 2,200 social facilities were surveyed. An energy passport and a balance of energy resource demand were prepared for each mahalla. This allowed for the first time to calculate the gap between actual energy needs and available capacity at the mahalla level.
It was found that 265 mahallas have an electricity deficit of 60 MW, and 42 mahallas face a shortage of natural gas amounting to 47 million cubic meters per year. At the same time, 207 mahallas have surplus capacity. According to these calculations, this approach allows for the timely determination of future energy resource needs and the preparation of necessary infrastructure.
Within the 14 pilot districts, the need was identified to repair 5,695 transformers, 6,900 km of power lines, and 242 km of gas networks, as well as 404 gas distribution points. Work to improve their technical condition and transition them to the 'green' category has already begun. To date, 441 transformers, 1,134 km of power lines, and 88 km of gas networks, as well as 92 gas distribution points have been repaired. Additionally, some facilities whose construction began in previous years under investment programs but remained unfinished have been put into operation.
According to forecasts, the demand for energy resources in these districts will increase by 49% over the next five years. Therefore, a five-year program has been developed that takes into account prospective projects and ensures reliable energy supply for the population and businesses. This program provides for the replacement of 2,261 transformers and 7,449 km of power lines in 721 mahallas, as well as the replacement of 313 gas distribution points and 327 km of gas networks in 200 mahallas. The implementation of these measures is expected to create an additional transmission capacity of 1,300 MW.
The level of energy consumption in social facilities was also studied. The analysis covered 1,938 facilities, of which 226 with low efficiency ratings were classified as 'red'. A program has been developed to transition these facilities to energy-efficient systems, and its implementation has already begun. According to calculations, these measures will allow for annual savings of 4.3 million kWh of electricity and 2.1 million cubic meters of natural gas.
Mirziyoyev instructed officials not to limit themselves to the approach tested in 14 districts, but to expand it to all districts of the republic. In each region, the work must be organized at the mahalla level, an energy passport and consumption balances must be prepared, a targeted assessment of the state of the networks must be conducted, and identified problems must be solved in stages. The main goal is to transition from fixing energy problems after they occur to proactively identifying them, planning necessary measures, and preventing possible failures.
Measures to accelerate the transfer of regional electrical grid projects of the Samarkand region to foreign investors for the management and construction of the 'Surkhan–Pul-i-Humri' high-voltage line were also discussed at the meeting.
