Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A large-scale investment project has been launched in the Samarkand region for the construction of a thermal waste processing plant that will generate electricity from solid household waste.

The project is being implemented under agreements previously signed between the Agency for Waste Management and Circular Economy under the Ministry of Ecology of Uzbekistan and the Chinese company “Shanghai SUS Environment” LLC, one of the leading international operators in the field of environmental technologies.

The cooperation documents were signed by Sharifbek Khasanov, Director of the Agency, and Long Ji Sheng, General Director of the Chinese company. The parties agreed to implement innovative waste-to-energy projects using thermal incineration technologies.

The first phase of this partnership has commenced in the Samarkand region. It includes the construction of a high-tech waste incineration facility with electricity generation. The project is being carried out in accordance with Presidential Decree No. PQ-118 of 24 March 2025, “On Measures to Implement Investment Projects for Electricity Production through the Incineration of Solid Household Waste.” The decree calls for the application of modern technological solutions, the attraction of direct foreign investment, and the improvement of the region’s environmental conditions.

On 18 July, a ceremonial groundbreaking event took place in the “Navruz” mahalla of the village of Khushrav in the city of Samarkand. The plant will be built on a 15-hectare site, where construction work has already begun.

During the ceremony, Sharifbek Khasanov, Director of the Waste Management Agency, emphasized the strategic importance of the project for strengthening the country’s environmental security. He stated that the implementation of such initiatives contributes to reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills, expanding the use of renewable energy sources, and establishing a sustainable development model.

The event was attended by representatives of the regional administration, foreign and local investors, heads of relevant institutions, sanitation specialists, mahalla committee activists, and members of the public.

According to project documentation, the plant will process up to 1,500 tons of waste per day and produce up to 240 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. The total investment from “Shanghai SUS Environment” is estimated at US$150 million. The project is expected to create between 150 and 200 new jobs. Construction is scheduled to be completed, and the plant commissioned, between 2025 and 2027.

Under the agreements reached, the generated electricity will be purchased for a 30-year period by the joint-stock company “Uzenergosotish,” while a steady supply of solid household waste will be ensured based on existing agreements.