Uzbekistan Environment - The Times Of Central Asia

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Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan to Share Water from Bahri Tojik Reservoir in Summer 2025

Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan have agreed to jointly use irrigation water from Tajikistan’s Bahri Tojik reservoir during the summer of 2025. The Bahri Tojik reservoir, formerly known as the Kairakkum reservoir until its renaming in 2016, is one of Tajikistan’s largest water bodies. Located in the Sughd region in the north of the country, it was constructed on the Syr Darya River and has been operational since 1959. During the summer growing season, Tajikistan typically releases additional water to support downstream countries, including Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, which face seasonal irrigation shortages. Water ministers from the three countries signed a protocol outlining the use of the reservoir from June to August 2025. The agreement aims to ensure a balanced and equitable distribution of water resources among the signatories. For Kazakhstan, the agreement is particularly significant, as the country anticipates receiving 491 million cubic meters of water from the reservoir at the height of the growing season. Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, stressed the importance of regional cooperation on water issues. “Kazakhstan is committed to implementing joint projects on water resources management, as well as promoting the principles of international water law. Water is not only a natural resource, but also an instrument of sustainable development and regional stability,” he said.

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Uzbekistan Deploys Space Technology to Combat Environmental Violations

Uzbekistan’s Prosecutor General’s Office and the national space agency, Uzbekkosmos, have signed a memorandum of cooperation aimed at strengthening environmental protection through the use of space-based technologies. According to Uzbekkosmos, the agreement facilitates the exchange of information and the use of satellite tools to monitor environmental conditions and investigate violations. The initiative will integrate aerospace technologies into environmental inspections, preliminary investigations, and monitoring activities, leveraging the State Space Monitoring System to provide more accurate and transparent data. The partnership outlines joint actions to detect and prevent a range of ecological infractions, including the reduction of green spaces, illegal tree felling, unauthorized use of forest lands, and illicit construction activities. The agreement also targets illegal excavation, particularly in riverbeds and protected water zones. The authorities will monitor compliance with regulations on riverbed cleaning and bank reinforcement, identifying any unauthorized digging operations. Satellite data will further be used to assess the volume of materials extracted from mines, monitor compliance with waste storage regulations, and detect illegal dumping sites. The initiative also addresses post-harvest practices, such as the burning of crop residue, which negatively affects air quality and soil health. Officials believe the partnership will enhance environmental oversight, promote public awareness, and improve the efficiency of ecological inspections. It is also expected to foster a stronger culture of environmental responsibility across the country. This initiative follows President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s 2024 ratification of Uzbekistan’s accession to the Outer Space Treaty, which governs the peaceful exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies. Originally signed in 1967 by the United Kingdom, Russia, and the United States, the treaty now includes 115 ratifying countries, with 22 additional signatories yet to ratify.

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Uzbek Scientists Trial Salt-Tolerant Plants to Revive Aral Sea Seabed

Field trials are underway on the desiccated seabed of the Aral Sea as part of a restoration initiative spearheaded by Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change. The goal is to identify plant species capable of surviving in saline soils and contributing to the rehabilitation of this ecologically devastated landscape. The study is led by scientists from the Research Institute of Forestry and supervised by Dr. Zinoviy Novitsky. One of the most promising candidates is Arundo donax, a species of reed grass typically found in wetter environments. Despite its usual habitat, the plant has demonstrated a remarkable tolerance for saline and arid conditions. Researchers discovered that groundwater in the test areas lies approximately two meters below the surface. Within its first year of growth, Arundo donax develops roots long enough to access this water, enabling it to survive and strengthen in the challenging environment. Dr. Novitsky noted that his team devised a specialized planting technique to improve the plant’s resilience. Root shoots were harvested from mature plants in regions with comparable soil conditions, such as Urgench and Karakalpakstan. When transplanted to the Aral Sea area, these shoots achieved a survival rate exceeding 90%. In addition to their depth, the roots of Arundo donax can spread laterally up to two meters, anchoring the soil and mitigating further land degradation. These trials, if scaled successfully, could play a pivotal role in combating dust storms and rejuvenating the Aral Sea region. Since 2021, Uzbekistan has planted more than 45 million trees across 1.9 million hectares of the dried seabed in Karakalpakstan. The country has also created six artificial lakes, replenished with water from the Amu Darya River, to foster biodiversity and support aquaculture. Moreover, dust filtration systems at major industrial sites and wastewater treatment facilities at eight plants have been modernized. Seven protected natural areas now span 3.7 million hectares in Karakalpakstan, several of which have been designated under UNESCO and the Ramsar Convention frameworks. Scientific efforts continue through the Aral Sea International Innovation Center, which is currently managing projects valued at over $630,000. By 2030, Uzbekistan aims to expand forest coverage in the region to 2.3 million hectares and restore vegetation on 80% of the dried seabed.

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As China Cuts Gas Demand, Uzbekistan Eyes Renewables Opportunity

China’s rapid transition to clean energy is beginning to reshape global energy markets, with significant implications for Central Asia. While the shift poses challenges for major natural gas exporters such as Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan, it may create new opportunities for Uzbekistan, according to a recent analysis by Eurasianet. A report by BloombergNEF, titled Energy Transition Supply Chains 2025, highlights China’s dominant position in clean energy manufacturing. The country controls over 70% of global production in sectors such as solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries, falling short only in the area of hydrogen electrolyzers. China is also leading in investment. In 2024, mainland China accounted for 76% of global spending on clean-tech manufacturing facilities. This robust industrial base aligns with the country’s surging domestic clean energy usage. Currently, renewables meet approximately 80% of the nation’s growing electricity demand. Think tank Ember projects that China will have over 2,460 gigawatts of renewable electricity capacity by 2030, twice the 2022 figure, with the bulk coming from solar power. Although fossil fuels still supply about 62% of China's energy mix, this proportion is expected to decline as economic growth slows, renewable capacity expands, and the country pursues its goal of carbon neutrality by 2060. These trends are already affecting regional energy dynamics. China’s softening demand for natural gas may explain the lack of progress on a Russian proposal to increase gas deliveries via Kazakhstan, as well as ongoing delays in the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline project. Turkmenistan appears to be recalibrating its strategy, recently agreeing to export gas to Turkey, possibly reflecting a reassessment of future Chinese demand. Meanwhile, trade tensions between China and the West have led to a surplus of Chinese-manufactured solar panels and other clean energy technologies. As developed nations impose tariffs, Chinese firms are increasingly targeting developing markets. This could benefit Uzbekistan, which is actively expanding its renewable energy infrastructure. With surplus Chinese equipment likely becoming more affordable, Uzbekistan may gain access to low-cost clean energy technologies in the near future.

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Central Asia’s Green Energy Dream: Too Big to Achieve?

Although most Central Asian nations are heavily dependent on fossil fuel production and exports, they are aiming to significantly increase the use of renewable energy, hoping to eventually become crucial suppliers of so-called green electricity to Europe. Achieving such an ambitious goal will be easier said than done, given that developing the green energy sector in the region requires massive investment. What Central Asian states – struggling to attract long-term private capital into clean energy projects – need is financing for projects that modernize power networks, improve grid stability, and enable cross-border electricity flows. These upgrades are essential for large-scale renewable energy deployment and regional trade in power. Most actors in Central Asia seem to have taken major steps in this direction. In November 2024, at the COP29 climate conference held in Baku, Kazakhstan signed several deals worth nearly $3.7 billion with international companies and development institutions to support green energy projects. Neighboring Uzbekistan, according to reports, has attracted more than €22 billion ($23.9) in foreign investment in renewable energy, while Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan – which is aiming to generate all its electricity from green energy sources by 2032 – have developed strategies to help increase their renewable potential. But to turn their goals into reality, all these nations will need funding – whether from oil-rich Middle Eastern countries, China, the European Union, or various international financial institutions. Presently, the development of the Caspian Green Energy Corridor – which aims to supply green electricity from Central Asia to Azerbaijan and further to Europe – remains the region’s most ambitious project. According to Yevgeniy Zhukov, the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Director General for Central and West Asia, this initiative is a strategic priority for Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan. “While the prospect of exporting green electricity to Europe is part of the long-term vision, the core goal of the initiative is to accelerate green growth within the region,” Zhukov told The Times of Central Asia. Together with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the ADB is funding a feasibility study for this proposed transmission corridor. The study will assess the technical and economic viability of such a system, along with the environmental and regulatory requirements. In the meantime, the ABD is expected to continue funding other green energy projects in the region. The financial entity, according to Zhukov, invested $250 million in Uzbekistan in 2023 to support renewable energy development and comprehensive power sector reforms, while in other Central Asian countries, it remains “firmly committed to driving the green energy transition.” “For instance, in Tajikistan we are exploring the potential to co-finance the Rogun Hydropower Project alongside the World Bank and other international partners. In Kyrgyzstan, our focus has been on supporting foundational reforms in the energy sector, including strengthening the policy and regulatory environment to attract private investment in renewables. In Turkmenistan, we’ve launched a total of $1.75 million technical assistance initiative to help lay the groundwork for future renewable energy development,” Zhukov stressed, pointing out that these efforts are part...

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UN Backs Earthquake Victims Day, Highlighting Uzbekistan’s Seismic History

On April 29, the United Nations General Assembly officially declared a new international observance — the International Day in Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes. The initiative, jointly proposed by Chile, the Philippines, and Uzbekistan, received widespread support from UN member states. The day will be commemorated annually to honor the victims of past earthquakes and raise awareness about seismic risks and disaster preparedness. Earthquakes remain among the deadliest natural disasters in human history, responsible for massive destruction and loss of life. Most recently, on March 28, a powerful earthquake in Myanmar claimed more than 3,700 lives. In Turkey and Syria, millions are still recovering from the devastating earthquakes of 2023, which killed over 55,000 people. Uzbekistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ulugbek Lapasov, stated that the declaration is not only a tribute to victims but also a global call to action. “We thank all member states who supported the resolution, as well as the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction for their help,” he stated. Uzbekistan has itself experienced devastating earthquakes. One of the most significant occurred in the early morning of April 26, 1966, when a powerful earthquake struck the capital city of Tashkent. The disaster left 300,000 people homeless and caused severe damage to homes, schools, hospitals, and factories. Eight people were killed, and about 150 were injured. Important documents and photographs from the 1966 disaster are preserved in the Central State Archive of Tashkent. Located in a seismically active region, Tashkent has a long history of earthquakes. Historical sources, including the writings of 19th-century historian Muhammad Solih, document earlier seismic events, such as the destructive earthquake of April 1866, which caused widespread damage to mosques and homes and many deaths. The city’s history of resilience lives on today. Many of Tashkent’s buildings, decorated with colorful mosaics, were built during the post-earthquake reconstruction.