Toxic smog chokes Navoi as Ecology Ministry struggles to act

The ministry also announced the suspension of operations at Sogda Kimyo Zavod, Ferrosplav, and Zarafshon Industrial Technology LLC, located at the former Elektrokimyo plant site, for exceeding environmental pollution limits and violating regulations. These enterprises were granted 10 days to implement corrective measures. Tests conducted at Navoiyazot’s urea workshop on July 29 revealed ammonia levels 1.08 times above the permitted limit, while overnight tests from July 29 to 30 showed ammonia levels 1.5 times and hydrogen sulfide levels 36 times above acceptable thresholds.

Despite these measures, the situation has not improved, fueling residents’ concerns and protests.

Ecologist’s perspective

A representative from the Navoi Regional Ecology Department, speaking with Kun.uz, confirmed that investigations are ongoing but identifying the culprit is proving challenging.

“We’re struggling because automatic monitoring stations for emissions haven’t been installed,” the ecologist explained. “We can’t directly access factories and must measure air pollution from their surroundings. With so many factories, it’s hard to pinpoint the source. If monitoring stations were in place, we could track which enterprise exceeds chemical emission limits in real time via computer alerts. We could then prove their violations and halt operations until the issue is resolved. No enterprise has installed these stations yet – it needs to be mandated from above.”

Automatic monitoring stations, designed to track and analyze atmospheric pollution, measure the quantity of harmful substances released and assess their environmental impact. According to the Navoi Regional Ecology Department, these stations, once integrated with the ministry’s systems, would allow real-time detection of excessive toxic gas or substance emissions from factories.

Installation of these stations is mandatory for Category I enterprises by January 1, 2026, and for Category II enterprises by July 1, 2026. In Navoi, there are 71 Category I and 218 Category II enterprises, with 122 located around Navoi city. This list is not final.

Ongoing concerns

On July 13, 19, 21, and 22, Navoi city was engulfed by a pungent, thick smog, causing coughing and other health issues among residents. Navoiyazot issued statements denying responsibility, and camera footage suggested that dust-like smog originated from enterprises built on the site of the former Elektrokimyo plant. Initially, the Regional Ecology Department pointed to Navoiyazot as the culprit, but after the company’s firm denials, authorities shifted focus to identifying the true source.