Uzbekistan Environment - The Times Of Central Asia

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One Billion Points for Planting Trees: Payme Users Helping Green Navoi

By allowing users to donate their accumulated points to good causes, the Payme app, part of the Payme Mahalla, has, since its launch in December 2022, funded projects for schools in Uzbekistan and Karakalpakstan, including the purchase of computers, sports equipment and stationery. Users of the Payme payment service have collected a billion points to support the project to turn Navoi green, a scheme initiated by ecoactivist and blogger Mutabar Khushvaktova (urikguli). Thanks to this action, more than a thousand trees were planted on the territory of Navoiazot JSC in November alone. The project began in October, when Khushvaktova announced a fundraiser for tree planting on her blog. Initially, the collection progressed slowly, but since Payme connected its users through the Mahalla loyalty program, in just a few days the required amount was raised, confirming that thousands of people are willing to support environmental initiatives. The trees were planted under the guidance of biologists and soil scientists. Garden elms, ideally suited to the climatic conditions of the region, were selected for the project. The site for planting was coordinated with the local authorities, with Navoiazot JSC taking care of the trees.

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Justice for Veterans: U.S. Acknowledges Cancer Cases Tied to Service at Uzbekistan’s K2 Base

Thousands of American veterans who served at Uzbekistan’s K2 airbase have reported rare cancers and diseases - but only now, more than two decades later, is the U.S. government taking steps to address their dire situation. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced plans to include bladder, urinary tract, and genitourinary cancers as conditions presumed to be linked to service at Uzbekistan’s Karshi-Khanabad airbase, known as K2. In 2001, the U.S. military moved into K2, a former Soviet airbase, to support a series of operations named “Enduring Freedom” which were purportedly aimed at tackling terrorism and Al-Qaeda in the wake of 9/11. However, in addition to the threat of terrorism, the troops faced another danger: the toxic environment. Reports from the base describe exposure to chemicals and radioactive materials. Soldiers recalled an underground “black bubble,” glowing lakes, and a chemical odor lingering in the air. [caption id="attachment_26149" align="aligncenter" width="634"] Image: Stronghold Freedom Foundation[/caption] The Karshi-Khanabad airbase was heavily used by the Soviet military during its operations in Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989, when it served as a site for producing, storing, and testing various weapons, including chemical weapons. The base also stored fuel, solvents, and other harmful substances. Additionally, it became a dumping ground for toxic waste, asbestos, enriched uranium, and other hazardous materials. Spills of these substances were frequent, leaving lasting environmental damage. Before the U.S. occupied K2, the destruction of Soviet-era missiles left some soil contaminated with low-level radioactive depleted uranium. The destruction of Soviet missiles was part of disarmament obligations under the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. A 2001 survey found traces that could be harmful if inhaled, and a 2002 assessment confirmed small amounts of uranium, identified as non-U.S. depleted uranium, outside Camp Stronghold Freedom’s perimeter. The affected area was covered with clean soil, fenced off, and marked as off-limits in November 2001. Furthermore, approximately 392 chemical compounds were found at the K2 Air Base. Thousands of military personnel who served in K2 suffered from severe illnesses, including rare forms of cancer, associated with their time at the base. However, over the years, the U.S. government and the VA have delayed recognition of the link between service in K2 and these health issues, leaving many veterans without adequate support. [caption id="attachment_26150" align="aligncenter" width="1140"] Image: Stronghold Freedom Foundation[/caption] According to the Stronghold Freedom Foundation, K2 veterans are 500% more likely to get cancer than other veterans - 75% of U.S. service members deployed to Uzbekistan alone have developed at least one type of K2-related illness. On November 11, President Joe Biden announced an expansion of the PACT Act (Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act), a law he signed in August 2022 to improve healthcare for veterans exposed to toxins. President Biden stated that the act has already helped over a million veterans and their families access benefits. Under new efforts, the VA will add bladder cancer, ureter cancer, multiple myeloma, and certain types of leukemia to the list of presumptive conditions. This expansion applies...

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New Project in Tashkent Offers Free Housing to Residents of Wooden Homes

Residents of wooden houses in Yangikhayot will be relocated to new apartments, and an arboretum will be created in their place. Residents of wooden two-story houses in Tashkent's Yangikhayot district will be relocated to the Yangi Mahalla residential complex in two to three years, with families receiving free accommodation in the new complex. The project, the cost of which is estimated at 1.5 trillion-som ($117 million), will affect 409 wooden houses in the Yuldosh (Sputnik) massif, where more than 21,000 people reside. The resettlement will affect 4,341 families, who will be relocated to modern apartment buildings in Gulshanobod mahalla. The project includes the resettlement of residents and landscaping, Yangikhayot District Hokim (head of the local executive authority), Hayot Inogamov and Tashkent Invest Chairman, Bakhrom Shokirov told a November 28 news conference. An arboretum surrounded by perennial trees will replace the old wooden houses. Tashkent Invest developed the resettlement program with the support of the hokimiyat and district administration. The company itself will not participate in the construction of the new houses, but will act as an intermediary between the state and construction organizations, overseeing the fulfillment of the social obligations of investors, and ensuring resettlement of the families. This project will not only improve the living conditions of thousands of residents, but will be an important step towards improving the environmental situation in the neighborhood by creating a new park on the site of the outdated development.

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The Amu Darya and the Aral Sea Crisis: Voices from the Heart of an Environmental Disaster

A documentary entitled Amu Darya: Missing to the River has been produced as part of Project Amu Darya. This initiative began in 2022, and is a collaboration between students from Karakalpakstan, Khorezm, and Oxford University in the UK. This research is important for several reasons. Firstly, the Aral Sea crisis, which is one of the most severe man-made ecological disasters in history, is under-reported by the global media. Secondly, the academic field is limited - outside of Uzbekistan, the historiography of the Aral crisis is still a developing field. Thirdly, the geographical scope of research is limited. Research is often focused on the Aral Sea itself, and does not take into account the impact on the wider region. Finally, there is no involvement of stakeholders. The personal experiences of those living along the Amu Darya River are often excluded from studies. [caption id="attachment_25946" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Amu Darya: Missing to the River screening - image: TCA, Sadokat Jalolova[/caption] The Amu Darya is one of the two main rivers feeding the Aral Sea. Irrigation in the Amu Darya basin has been carried out for more than three thousand years. However, the current Aral Sea crisis was caused by mismanagement during the Soviet and post-Soviet eras. International donors have intensified their efforts to address the crisis. By December 2022, the UN Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea Region had raised over $16 million to support communities affected by the disaster. Established in 2018, the fund helps mitigate the environmental and social consequences of the crisis. President Mirziyoyev’s government has also lifted many data restrictions, allowing more research in the region. In 2017, the United Nations conducted the first socioeconomic survey of Aral Sea communities. [caption id="attachment_25948" align="aligncenter" width="884"] Aralkum Desert, former Aral Sea; image: TCA, Sadokat Jalolova[/caption] Central Asian countries are also cooperating to solve the problem of water level reduction in the Aral Sea. This year, as a result of the introduction of water-saving technologies on 55,000 hectares of rice fields in Kazakhstan, more than 200 million cubic meters of water were directed to the Aral Sea. The Times of Central Asia spoke with Annie Liddell, one of Project Amu Darya’s co-founders. She shared her thoughts about the inspiration behind the documentary. According to Liddell, the team were inspired by Svetlana Alexievich’s book Voices of Chernobyl. The author used oral interviews to highlight the personal stories behind the environmental disaster, making it more relatable. Liddell explained that the film aims to preserve the authenticity of interviewees’ voices and connect their stories of the Amu Darya’s past with the reality of its present state, which is a rapidly spreading desert. Local communities played a central role in the film’s creation. Students from Karakalpak State University and Urgench State University contributed to the research. Residents of Karakalpakstan and Khorezm also shared their personal stories, and provided insights into their culture and stability. [caption id="attachment_25949" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image: Project Amu Darya[/caption] The documentary depicts different historical periods and personal experiences. It covers...

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Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan Stand Out at COP29

The 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), held in Baku from November 11–22, 2024, has underscored the critical role of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in advancing Caspian Sea regional energy transitions. Both countries leveraged their positions along the Middle Corridor to present ambitious renewable and nuclear energy strategies. Azerbaijan: Renewables and the Middle Corridor Azerbaijan, the host and chair of COP29, has positioned itself as a renewable energy connector between Central Asia and Europe. Its energy strategy reflects a pragmatic approach to transitioning from hydrocarbons, which accounted for 88% of government revenues in 2023, to a diversified portfolio incorporating solar, wind, and hydropower. Azerbaijan has prioritized key renewable energy projects to align with its goal of achieving a 30% renewable share in its electricity mix by 2030. Among these is the operational Garadagh Solar Power Plant, a 230-megawatt (MW) facility developed by the UAE's Masdar, which generates 500 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually. Complementing this is the planned Alat Solar Project, a 400-MW solar installation expected to be operational by 2027. These projects aim to bolster domestic electricity supply and expand Azerbaijan’s capacity to export renewable energy. The Caspian Offshore Wind Initiative, backed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), seeks to harness the Caspian Sea’s favorable wind conditions. A 1-gigawatt (GW) wind farm is under preliminary study, with construction anticipated to begin by 2026. This project could transform Azerbaijan into a renewable energy hub for the Middle Corridor, particularly as Europe reduces its dependency on Russian energy. Kazakhstan: Nuclear Ambitions and Renewable Diversification Kazakhstan’s energy strategy focuses on nuclear power and renewables, driven by the need to reduce coal dependency, which still accounts for two thirds of its electricity generation. The government’s approval of its first nuclear power plant, following a nationwide referendum in October 2024, is central to this strategy. The planned nuclear reactor, located near Lake Balkhash, will generate 1.2-GW of electricity, replacing approximately 20% of coal-fired generation. This initiative complements Kazakhstan’s status as the world’s largest uranium producer, supplying over 40% of global demand and generating $3.6 billion in export revenues in 2023. Potential consortium members for the project include South Korea’s KEPCO, France’s Orano and EDF, China’s CNNC, and Russia's Rosatom, although economic-sanctions issues complicate Russia’s involvement in the nuclear sector. Kazakhstan is simultaneously scaling up renewable energy projects, with several key initiatives underway. The Zhanatas Wind Farm, operational since 2022, produces 100-MW of power, and the Shelek Solar Park, a 200-MW solar facility near Almaty, is expected to come online in late 2025. Together, these projects aim to increase renewables to 15% of Kazakhstan’s electricity mix by 2030, quintupling the level from 2023. The Trans-Caspian Electricity Cable Project At the COP29 conference, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, along with Uzbekistan, announced an ambitious trans-Caspian electricity cable project through an underwater transmission system. This infrastructure initiative, estimated to cost $2.5 billion, seeks to establish an electricity corridor linking Central Asia with European markets, representing a significant step in regional energy integration. The project...

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Saudi Arabia to Build Electricity Storage Systems in Uzbekistan

Saudi company ACWA Power has signed an agreement with Uzbekistan to construct electricity storage systems with a total capacity of 2,000 MWh. The agreement was formalized during the COP-29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. Under the agreement, ACWA Power will collaborate with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy to develop energy storage systems across the country. The implementation will be based on a comprehensive analysis of the national grid’s condition. The project will begin with feasibility studies to determine the most suitable regions for phased deployment. The initiative is estimated to cost $1.1 billion and is expected to create over 1,000 jobs during its lifetime. Uzbekistan has ambitious plans to expand its energy storage capacity to 4.2 GW by 2030. The first energy storage system in the country is slated for launch in early 2025 in the Fergana region. Deputy Energy Minister Umid Mamadaminov recently noted that Uzbekistan needs to build 10 GW of backup capacity by 2030 to support the integration of renewable energy sources. He emphasized that the country’s minimum reserve should equal 50% of its solar and wind power capacity.