Through strategic cooperation between the Government of Uzbekistan and the Chinese company CAMC Engineering (CAMCE), construction has begun on two large-scale waste-to-energy (WtE) plants in the Bukhara and Surkhandarya regions. The total investment, valued at $500 million, aims to modernize waste management in the Central Asian nation while boosting renewable energy production. These facilities will not only reduce the burden on landfills but also supply a significant amount of electricity to the national grid.
According to the Uzbek Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, the project is being realized using Chinese capital and technology as a direct response to the region’s growing waste management challenges. The investment is being implemented simultaneously at two locations: the Kagan district of Bukhara and the Termez district of Surkhandarya.
Bukhara: A $250 Million Investment for Sustainability
The plant being built in the Kagan district of the Bukhara region will be one of the most modern facilities in the area. The project parameters are as follows:
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Investment Value: $250 million.
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Processing Capacity: The plant will be capable of disposing of and utilizing 1,000–1,500 tons of solid municipal waste per day.
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Energy Production: Using thermal energy generated during waste incineration, the facility will feed 100–150 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity into the grid annually.
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Job Creation: The project is expected to create 300–500 new jobs for the local population during the construction and operational phases.
The technology allows for waste incineration in a closed system using strict environmental filtration systems to minimize harmful emissions.
Surkhandarya: Regional Waste Management Center in Termez
The technical specifications of the second plant, under construction in the Termez district of the Surkhandarya region, mirror those of the Bukhara facility, emphasizing the project’s scalability and efficiency.
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Investment Value: $250 million.
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Capacity: Processing 1,000–1,500 tons of waste daily.
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Production: Generation of 100–150 million kWh of electricity per year.
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Employment: 300–500 new jobs will be established in this region as well.
The Ministry highlighted that these plants play a key role in the nationwide expansion of the “Waste-to-Energy” concept, which helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Strategic Goals and Environmental Impact
Under the agreement with CAMCE, the plants will utilize state-of-the-art incineration technologies that meet international environmental standards. The direct benefits of the investment include:
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Reducing Landfill Expansion: By incinerating a significant portion of waste, land previously used for traditional dumping can be reclaimed.
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Mitigating Greenhouse Gases: Controlled incineration prevents methane, generated in landfills, from entering the atmosphere.
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Energy Security: The produced electricity will stabilize the local grid in these two border regions.
The Uzbek government expects that following the successful commissioning of these two plants, further similar projects may be launched in other parts of the country, continuing the comprehensive reform of waste management.
Official Sources and References:
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UzDaily (February 2026): В Бухаре и Сурхандарье начали строительство мусоросжигательных заводов с китайскими инвестициями
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Uzbek Ecology Ministry: Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan
