AMMC fined UZS 48 billion following illegal waste storage and river pollution

The breaches were identified during a comprehensive audit conducted by the State Environmental Control Inspectorate, an agency under the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, in Tashkent region.

Authorities stated that the combine had illegally stored hazardous waste in open areas, creating substantial contamination risks for both the soil and groundwater. Furthermore, inspectors discovered that wastewater treatment facilities at an ore management site in Angren were operating inefficiently due to severely worn-out equipment. This failure resulted in the discharge of untreated wastewater directly into the Angren River.

In addition to the financial penalty, AMMC has been issued 20 mandatory orders to rectify these violations and bring its industrial operations into full environmental compliance.

The fine comes amid broader scrutiny of the state-owned enterprise. Earlier reports by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) identified a suspicious pattern in tenders issued by AMMC over the past three years. According to those findings, while winning companies were registered in various jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, Georgia, and Singapore, they may be linked to a single individual, Grigory Khvan. AMMC has officially denied all allegations regarding potential irregularities in the awarding of foreign contracts, which are valued at more than 200 million USD.