Uzbekistan Local Politics - The Times Of Central Asia

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Centre for Environmental Diagnostics of Vehicles Opens in Tashkent

On March 5th, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited a new centre for environmental diagnostics of motor vehicles in Tashkent. Environmental issues have become a major concern in Uzbek’s capital city, especially air pollution caused by harmful emissions from traffic. In a measure to stall the sharp increase in air pollution, the centre first assesses the level of harmful substances emitted by motor vehicles and depending on results, attaches color-coded stickers with chips to vehicles’ windshields. Plans are in place to divide the city's territory into several ecological zones. Entry will be limited in accordance with the level of pollutants emitted by vehicles, identified by their red, yellow, or green stickers. Drivers of vehicles that violate the rules will be automatically fined and the resulting revenue, invested in incentives to further improve the environment. The government plans to expand the initiative by installing some 100 automatic air monitoring stations and creating 84 registration and diagnostic centres for vehicles across the country. In a move towards tackling air pollution, the government will also encourage the purchase of greener, electric vehicles by reducing the fee for state license plates.

Central Asia Uzbekistan Uzbekistan International Affairs Uzbekistan Local Politics

Uzbekistan to Introduce New Visa Program for Those Looking for ‘Second Home’

Uzbekistan is introducing a tourist visa program called Uzbekistan Is My Second Home, enabling foreign visitors to stay in its north-western Khorezm region for up to a year without restrictions. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has also unveiled a three-year plan for developing the region’s tourism industry, commenting that the sector is one of Khorezm’s primary economic drivers. In the town of Khiva, in the western part of Khorezm, authorities are planning to open new 24-hour cafes, restaurants, and grocery stores. Major Uzbek cities, including Urgench just north of Khiva, are to receive 30 billion sum (around $2.4m) in subsidies in order to lower the cost of airline tickets. Unfortunately, several parts of Khorezm still currently lack hotels. Loans at present are offered at an 18% interest rate for a period of seven years -- with a two-year grace period -- for the construction of hotels and resorts to increase the number of available tourist beds. The Khorezm region has the highest density of tourist attractions, historical sites, and architectural artifacts in all of Uzbekistan. The area is home to 254 cultural heritage monuments, which span the Neolithic era and the 19th century. Thirty-two are holy places, 66 are sculptures, six are attractions, and 18 are archaeological.

Central Asia Environment Uzbekistan Environment Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Business & Economy Uzbekistan Local Politics

Green Energy as a New Driver of Uzbekistan’s Economy

At a government meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on February 28th, it was announced that in 2024, Uzbekistan will produce 13 billion kilowatt-hours of green energy via hydro, wind, and solar power plants, to generate 15% of the country’s electricity. For decades, natural gas, oil products, and coal have fuelled Uzbekistan’s electricity but in recent years, the country’s natural gas has severely depleted. In 2023, Uzbekistan registered a reduction in the production by more than 4.5 billion cubic meters, necessitating the need to import natural gas from Russia through Kazakhstan. Official statistics also recorded a decrease in the country’s oil production. At yesterday’s meeting, it was stated that the country’s potential for solar and wind energy is 10-12 times higher than the current demand for electricity. In response, the government has launched major programs to create green energy with attractive packages for investors. To date, the renewable energy sector has attracted $2.1 billion in direct foreign investment enabling the implementation of projects worth $13 billion. Solar and wind power plants are currently under construction across the country, with nine solar and wind power plants with a total capacity of 1.6 gigawatts already launched in Bukhara, Jizzakh, Kashkadarya, Navoi, Samarkand, and Surkhandarya. Rooftop solar panels with a total capacity of 457 megawatts have also been installed in commercial, public, and residential buildings. When combined, these new measures produce an additional 5 billion kilowatt-hours of green electricity to the national grid and save 1.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas. President Mirziyoyev confirmed that the government has commissioned the following to be completed over the next three years: 28 solar and wind power plants with a total capacity of 8 gigawatts, 944 kilometers of high-voltage power lines, six large substations and 18 energy storage facilities with a total capacity of 2.2 gigawatts. He also emphasized that apart from the obvious benefits to the environment, the sector’s demand from local enterprises for solar panels, transformers and other related products has resulted in green energy becoming a new driver of the national economy.

Central Asia Uzbekistan Environment Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Local Politics

Tashkent to Introduce Monthly ‘Car-Free Day’

One working day each month will now be "Car-Free Day" in the capital of Uzbekistan. The plan is to reduce the environmental impact of vehicles and encourage people to use bicycles to get around the city. Restrictions will not apply to public transportation, or emergency vehicles. Government officials have been instructed to "set a personal example by arriving at the workplace on public transportation." The idea for car-free days originated in Switzerland in 1973, during a fuel crisis, before spreading to other European countries. In 1998 the European Union initiated a campaign called "In town, without my car!," which is held from September 16 to 22 every year. The need to reduce air pollution in Tashkent is especially acute. The Uzbek capital is among the five cities worldwide with the worst air quality -- and often tops the ranking. This was the case on February 21, for example, when the content of fine particulate matter (PM2.5 measurement) in the city's air amounted to 140.3 µg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter) -- which exceeded the WHO recommendations by a whopping 28.1 times (5 µg/m3). The public is sounding the alarm and calling on the Tashkent authorities to take urgent measures to prevent an ecological disaster. Specialists believe that single actions are not enough to preserve clean air in big cities; comprehensive work is needed to address the root causes of the pollution. This critical situation has prompted the government to include measures to improve the country's ecology in the large-scale state program for implementing the "Uzbekistan-2030" strategic roadmap. For example, it plans to phase out vehicles from the capital and regional centers that do not meet Euro-5 standards by 2030, and to ban trucks weighing more than 10 tons from driving through Tashkent -- except for those of the Armed Forces and municipal services. From March 1, the population will be notified about excessive content of fine particles in the local atmosphere, and measures will be taken to protect against dust at large construction sites (500 square meters and larger) in the country. Special attention will be paid to persons with diseases of the cardiovascular system and respiratory tract. In addition, Uzbekistan plans to abandon the production of 80-octane (AI-80) gasoline by 2026, in part to help popularize the use of electric cars and electric urban transport. Currently, the only countries that still produce AI-80 gasoline are Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. Medical experts believe that automotive exhaust is one of the main causes of lung cancer in humans. Yahye Ziyayev, Secretary General of the Uzbekistan Oncology Association, noted that "when AI-72 and AI-76 were banned in Uzbekistan, the incidence of lung cancer decreased over the course of ten years."

Central Asia Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Local Politics

Uzbekistan’s Upper House of Parliament Undergoes Structural Changes

In April 2023 a new version of Uzbekistan's constitution was adopted following a national referendum. The country's legislation is still being amended, and the composition of government is being molded to these new laws. At the 49th plenary session of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, senators approved a law that gives the Senate the right of self-dissolution. At the same time, new elections to the Legislative Chamber will be held within two months, and the new Senate will be formed within one month. They also reduced the number of Senate members by a third -- to 65 from 100 previously. Senators will now be elected proportionately from the Republic of Karakalpakstan, the regions and Tashkent city -- four people each -- and nine are appointed by the president himself. Previously, there were six and 16, respectively. The number of deputy speakers of the Legislative Chamber has also been reduced -- now there are only two compared to the previous seven. This was done because many of the powers of the upper house are duplicated. The number of permanent senators hasn't changed; it remains at 25. From now on, a representative holding the post of speaker must suspend their membership of a political party. One important innovation is that now a bill submitted by a group of 100,000 voters, the Senate, the Ombudsman or the Central Election Commission can be submitted to the Legislative Chamber for consideration. Members of the Legislative Chamber and members of the Senate, as part of a special commission, may conduct a parliamentary inquiry. Representatives also approved a number of exceptional powers for the Senate. Now the upper chamber of the country's parliament, among other things, can cancel the decisions of local representative bodies of state power -- if it concludes that they don't meet the letter of the law. Also, the Senate has the right to strip any of its members of immunity at the request of Uzbekistan's Prosecutor General.

Central Asia Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Local Politics

Five Hundred Uzbek Orphans Will Be Provided With New Homes in 2024

Officials in Uzbekistan held an online meeting under the direction of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on February 20th to discuss the top priorities in the realm of social services. One topic raised at the meeting was that the work of juvenile legal and social-assistance centers needs to be improved. It was stated that these centers ought to be transformed into facilities that deal with childhood issues inherent to those who have challenging upbringings, and that the center should offer complex social services to help children adjust to society. The President directed that institutions like the School of Life be reorganized. It was also underlined how important it is to give orphans land for farming, and also provide training in entrepreneurship and professions in order to help them fulfill their potential. The Cabinet of Ministers was set the task of establishing a system to enable orphans and young people who lack parental guidance and affection to find work in state organizations. To help complete this task, a list of young people in dire need of housing will be compiled by the Inson (People) social-service centers. The value of the housing provided to them is set by region and is based on fair market value. The amount of money set aside for these projects this year will total 140 billion som (~$11.2 million). Officials were instructed to provide housing for 500 orphans who are on the waiting list before June 1st.