Uzbekistan Prepares to Join the Minamata Convention on Mercury

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — In line with Uzbekistan’s Environmental Protection Concept through 2030, approved by Presidential Decree PF–5863 on 30 October 2019, the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change is exploring the possibility of the country joining the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

As part of this process, a national questionnaire has been developed, data are being collected across key economic sectors, and preparations are underway for the country’s first national mercury inventory and corresponding reporting.

From 11 to 13 November 2025, a technical seminar and training workshop was held to enhance the practical skills of the specialists in the national inventory group. Participants learned to use BMT/UNITAR tools for mercury accounting, studied measures for joining the Minamata Convention, and explored strategies to reduce mercury emissions and waste.

The training involved an international FAO consultant, Jakob Maag, alongside local experts, and included presentations, practical exercises, and discussions.

Specialists from the Ecology and Green Economy Department of Uzkhimyosanoat JSC actively participated in the workshop, assisting in completing the national questionnaire and contributing significantly to Uzbekistan’s efforts to reduce mercury pollution risks and prepare the country for accession to the Minamata Convention.