Uzbekistan to tighten environmental penalties as current fines prove ineffective

In recent years, the country has undertaken large-scale efforts to protect the environment, promote the rational use of natural resources, introduce the principles of a green economy, and enhance ecological culture. However, the rapid development of industry, construction, transport, and municipal services requires stricter control over environmental factors and stronger enforcement of environmental standards.

Officials reviewed environmental violations during the presentation. They recorded more than 47,000 administrative cases in 2024, rising to over 59,000 in 2025. Because fines remain too low relative to the environmental damage caused, some companies opt to keep operating and pay penalties rather than address the violations.

In response, officials proposed revising financial sanctions for legal entities to reflect the environmental damage caused and align with international standards. They plan to introduce stronger financial penalties for illegal extraction of non-metallic materials from riverbeds, water pollution, illegal logging of trees and shrubs, exceeding emission limits, releasing dust and sand from construction sites, and burning waste in unauthorized areas.

Thus, it is suggested to combine administrative fines and compensation payments for environmental damage into a single financial sanction, and to introduce a practice whereby, in cases where a company admits liability, the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change will have the right to apply the sanction independently, while in the event of disputes, the matter will be considered and resolved in court.

The presentation also accessed proposals to restore the natural balance of the Ugam River and preserve its unique natural heritage.

The Ugam River and its basin are among the important ecological areas within the Ugam-Chatkal National Nature Park. Dozens of rare species of flora and fauna live here, including those listed in the Red Book. In addition, the river plays a major role in supplying water to the Chirchik River basin.

Studies show that in recent years the Ugam River’s water flow has declined, while pressures on water quality have increased. This trend raises the risk of bank erosion, harms aquatic flora and fauna, and threatens biodiversity.

Officials proposed designating the Ugam River and surrounding areas as a state hydrological natural monument and restricting construction and excavation in coastal and water protection zones that affect the natural hydrological system. They also plan to inventory facilities in these zones and assess their impact on water quality and biofauna. Authorities will review whether to halt or relocate activities that fail to meet environmental requirements.

At the same time, officials plan to develop a master plan titled “Improving the Ugam River Ecosystem” to ensure its long-term ecological and hydrological sustainability. They also intend to plant trees and shrubs in coastal and protected areas to prevent land degradation.

This year, authorities intend to expand service coverage to 90% by supplying additional specialized equipment and containers to sanitation providers and reclaiming 18 landfills. By 2030, they aim to cut the number of landfills by half.

Officials stressed the need to cut logistics costs, increase sorting and recycling, and ease pressure on landfills by building waste transfer stations. They plan to build 28 such stations in 2026 and 70 by 2030.

Authorities also evaluated progress on major investment projects to generate electricity from household waste. Six plants worth $933 million are under construction in the Andijan, Namangan, Fergana, Samarkand, Kashkadarya and Tashkent regions. Once operational, they will process 3.6 million tons of municipal waste a year and generate 1.6 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. Authorities also instructed officials to begin preparing the next phase, which includes building five additional plants worth $633 million.

The government reviewed projects to expand protected natural areas and conserve unique flora and fauna. Plans include strengthening protection of the “Yazyavan” natural monument, part of the Fergana National Nature Park, establishing a dendrological garden, and enhancing monitoring through observation towers, specialized drones and digital systems.

The project includes a visitor center, walking trails, birdwatching platforms, photo zones and panoramic viewpoints. It will also introduce scientific and educational tours.

The project will cost $260 million and create capacity to process 330,000 tons of hazardous waste a year. It will support environmental sustainability, introduce new standards and advanced technologies, and help develop the region’s workforce.

Officials noted that construction waste rose from 1.2 million tons in 2017 to 1.9 million tons in 2025.

In response, they proposed creating a digital platform to track construction waste from generation to disposal, using GPS for real-time monitoring. They also plan to build sorting and processing facilities at landfills.

It is also envisaged to introduce a mandatory requirement to comply with the terms of waste disposal contracts when approving construction projects. In addition, measures are planned to identify cases of illegal waste disposal using photo and video recording and to strengthen liability for such violations.

The government reviewed projects to expand protected natural areas and preserve unique flora and fauna. Plans include strengthening protection of the “Yazyavan” natural monument, part of the Fergana National Nature Park, establishing a dendrological garden, and enhancing monitoring with observation towers, specialized drones and digital systems.

The project includes building a visitor center, pedestrian trails, birdwatching platforms, photo zones and panoramic viewpoints. Authorities plan to introduce scientific and educational tours as well.

The government also evaluated proposals to develop facilities for eco-tourism in the “Ovjazsay–Sinegorye” national nature park. The initiative will focus on building visitor-friendly infrastructure while preserving natural landscapes and mountain ecosystems.

Officials discussed preparations for this year’s ECO EXPO Central Asia 2026 international exhibition and the 8th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility in Samarkand.

The Global Environment Facility is a major international financial institution with 186 member countries, which Uzbekistan joined in 1995. Hosting the Assembly in Samarkand will mark the first environmental forum of this scale in Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Around 2,500 participants are expected, including representatives from 186 countries, 40 donor nations, more than 50 leading environmental organizations and international experts.

The ECO EXPO Central Asia 2026 exhibition will promote expanded cooperation among the domestic industry, local administrations, international financial institutions, suppliers of innovative green technologies, and investors.

The president approved the proposals and issued instructions to strengthen oversight and accountability in environmental protection, introduce modern waste management systems, preserve water resources and biodiversity, and advance the scientific development of protected natural areas.