Uzbekistan Introduces Incentives for Major Industrial Polluters to Reduce Environmental Impact
Uzbekistan’s government has approved new measures aimed at encouraging large industrial enterprises to reduce their environmental footprint. Resolution No. 85 establishes regulations to incentivize environmental impact reduction efforts by industrial enterprises classified as Category I and Category II facilities based on their level of environmental impact. These categories include enterprises considered to have significant or moderate effects on the natural environment. Under the new framework, incentives will be introduced in two stages. At the first stage, an enterprise that installs a background air pollution monitoring station will be eligible for relief from previously assessed outstanding compensation payments for environmental damage. In addition, 50% of compensation payments allocated to the state budget for environmental harm will be refunded over a two-year period. At the second stage, if the enterprise installs dust and gas cleaning equipment as well as local wastewater treatment facilities within one year after commissioning the monitoring station, 70% of the compensation payments directed to the state budget will be refunded over two years. Enterprises seeking to benefit from these incentives must notify the Ecology Committee through Public Service Centers or via the government’s online portal. The committee will review submitted documentation within 15 working days and issue a formal conclusion on whether the enterprise qualifies for state support. The Times of Central Asia previously reported, that more than a dozen valuable trees were cut down at the construction site of the Ritz-Carlton Tashkent project in central Tashkent. Environmental damage in that case was officially assessed at 351,230,000 Uzbek sum (approximately $29,000), according to documentation cited by officials.
