Uzbekistan Signs $78 Million Deal with Saudi and French Firms to Manage Hazardous Waste

Uzbekistan has signed a landmark $78 million agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Vision International Investment Company (VIIC) and France’s Suez International to improve hazardous industrial waste management and bolster environmental protection. The Ministry of Ecology announced the signing earlier this month. The agreement was formalized by Deputy Minister of Ecology Jusipbek Kazbekov, VIIC Director of Development Kapil Lalwani, and Paul Bourdillon, Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia at Suez. The project will be implemented in three phases. A Three-Phase Strategy The first phase will involve the construction of new waste stabilization facilities, landfills, and transfer stations to safely store and process hazardous industrial waste. The second phase will focus on developing engineering designs and piloting technologies to produce Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF), a method that converts waste into usable energy. This phase will also test incineration and thermal treatment systems. In the third and final phase, the project will establish a full-scale RDF and waste-to-energy facility. Suez International, with over 160 years of experience, is a global leader in water and waste management, offering innovative solutions across Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East. Saudi-based VIIC, founded in 2002, manages nearly $96 billion in assets and is active in energy, infrastructure, and public-private partnership projects. The Ministry of Ecology views the agreement as a significant advancement for Uzbekistan’s environmental policy, aiming to reduce industrial pollution and support sustainable development. Broader Environmental Initiatives Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Ecology is also collaborating with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Union to manage hazardous agricultural chemicals. A joint project launched in Tashkent last year aims to reduce pesticide use and improve waste handling in agriculture. Minister of Ecology Aziz Abdukhakimov emphasized the importance of these initiatives for public health and environmental safety. He also highlighted the need to update the national registry of contaminated areas, particularly former agricultural airfields, many of which have not been surveyed since the 1990s.

EU and FAO Aid Uzbekistan’s Management of Hazardous Chemicals

On 1 May, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan held an inception workshop in Tashkent on technical assistance for the sound management of hazardous chemicals. The joint venture, implemented with financial support from the European Union, is designed to enhance the effectiveness of mechanisms and tools for the management of hazardous chemicals and related waste. A key goal cited by the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan, is to reduce the use of dangerous pesticides in agriculture, through the introduction and promotion of alternative methodologies amongst farmers. Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, stressed that by actively striving to reduce the use of highly hazardous pesticides, Uzbekistan aims to lower their adverse impact on the nation’s health and environment, in addition to making a significant contribution to  UN Sustainable Development Goals. Regarding plans to address the issue, he  announced, “We need to revise our inventory of contaminated areas of former agricultural airfields and other sites, the last of which, was carried out in the ‘90s when more than 450 former agricultural airfields were identified.” Praising the move, Wim Riepma, Head of Cooperation Section, EU Delegation to Uzbekistan, stated: "Our partnership with the Government of Uzbekistan and FAO exemplifies a collective commitment to protecting the environment and public health, by cleaning up legacy waste, by improving waste management, and by reducing pesticide waste production. Integrated pest management and awareness of health and environmental risks are key to a healthier, environment- friendly and economically viable agriculture sector.” Sherzod Umarov, Assistant FAO Representative in Uzbekistan, likewise emphasized, "The project implementation will enable an improved institutional capacity for sound pesticide management and better data on hazardous wastes in agriculture allowing development of a national waste management strategy. The project also aims to scale up green practices in the agricultural sector leading to reduced risks to farmers and consumers from the use of pesticides and to food production relying on less toxic pesticides and biological protection tools.”