Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan has launched the second phase of projects involving the thermal treatment of municipal solid waste to generate electricity. Once all planned projects are completed, the system will cover all regions of the country.
Aziza Nazarova, head of a department at the Agency for Waste Management and Circular Economy Development, announced this at a briefing at the Media Content Training Centre.
Under the second phase, five modern plants are being built with total foreign direct investment of US$625 million. The projects are being implemented jointly with Chinese companies Beijing China Sciences Runyu Environmental Technology, Wangneng Environment and Henan Investment Group, as well as South Korea’s Green Hammer.
The new facilities will operate in the Republic of Karakalpakstan and the Bukhara, Jizzakh, Navoi, Syrdarya, Surkhandarya and Khorezm regions.
Once the plants reach their designed capacity, their combined output will allow 1.9 million tonnes of municipal solid waste to be thermally treated annually. The projects are expected to generate 635 million kWh of electricity and save 158 million cubic metres of natural gas.
The projects are also expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 316,000 tonnes and create 500 new jobs.
First and second phases
The first phase of the programme includes the construction of six plants. Total foreign direct investment in these projects amounts to US$933 million. The projects involve Chinese companies China CAMC Engineering, Shanghai SUS Environment and China Everbright International Limited.
The first-phase facilities cover Namangan, Ferghana, Kashkadarya, Samarkand, Andijan and Tashkent regions, as well as the city of Tashkent.
Thus, 11 investment projects with a combined value of US$1.558 billion are being implemented under the two phases. They are expected to establish an integrated system for generating electricity from municipal solid waste across all regions of Uzbekistan.
All plants are scheduled to be commissioned in stages in 2027–2028.
Once all facilities reach their designed capacity, annual thermal waste treatment is expected to reach 5.4 million tonnes. Electricity generation will reach 2.2 billion kWh per year, while the total number of new jobs will reach 1,500.
Long-term electricity purchase
Under electricity purchase and municipal solid waste supply agreements, the electricity generated by the plants will be guaranteed to be purchased by Uzenergosotish JSC for 30 years.
The mechanism is intended to ensure the long-term and stable operation of the projects.
The facilities will use modern technologies to control and limit emissions of harmful substances generated during the thermal treatment of waste.
The projects are expected to reduce pressure on landfills by cutting the volume of municipal waste sent for disposal and improve environmental conditions in the regions.
The projects envisage a transition from traditional waste disposal to a model in which municipal waste is used as a raw material for alternative energy production and as an economic resource.
