Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan has signed a cooperation agreement with Saudi investment company Vision International Investment (VIIC) and French corporation Suez International.

The agreement was signed by Deputy Minister of Ecology Jusipbek Kazbekov, VIIC’s Director of Development Kapil Lalvani, and Suez International’s Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Paul Bourdillon.

The agreement outlines the joint development and phased implementation of a large-scale project focused on the management of hazardous industrial waste, with a total investment of USUS$78 million.

In the first phase, the project will establish specialized facilities for the stabilization and disposal of waste at equipped landfill sites, along with the creation of regional transfer stations. The second phase will include the preparation of a preliminary engineering design and pilot testing of equipment for the production of RDF fuel (Refuse-Derived Fuel), as well as incineration and thermal treatment systems. The third phase will involve the construction and launch of a full production cycle for RDF generation and the thermal processing of industrial waste.

Suez International is a French company with more than 160 years of experience, specializing in water and waste management. It develops comprehensive solutions for water supply, wastewater treatment, and the recycling and disposal of both municipal and hazardous waste. The company operates across Europe, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa.

Founded in 2002 in Saudi Arabia, Vision International Investment Company (VIIC) is a major investment holding with an asset portfolio valued at approximately USUS$96 billion. The company is active in energy, infrastructure, utilities, water services, power generation, and consulting, and is involved in public-private partnership projects.

This agreement marks a step toward strengthening long-term partnerships and will serve as a significant contribution to improving the environmental situation in the region.