Authorities close 20 companies in Navoi for air pollution violations

In the Navoi region, 20 enterprises that negatively affected the atmosphere and lacked environmental expertise approvals have had their activities temporarily suspended, a special commission reported.

According to the findings, studies were conducted in August–September 2025 across 168 industrial enterprises in Navoi city and surrounding areas. Air composition analyses at 11 locations using mobile laboratories revealed that sulfur dioxide (SO₂) levels exceeded the norm by 1.86 times, while ammonia (NH₃) levels were 1.43 times above the permissible limit.

The investigation found that Sogda Kimyo Zavod LLC operated without a state environmental expertise approval, had an unregulated waste dump on its territory, and illegally transported construction waste outside the area. Court documents submitted in this regard led to a September 3, 2025, court decision suspending the operations of three enterprises under Sogda Kimyo Zavod.

Additionally, analyses in the NavoiAzot area revealed serious violations: ammonia levels were 1.5 times above the norm, hydrogen sulfide 36 times above in certain areas, while in the western region, ammonia was 6.6 times, hydrogen sulfide 1.4 times, and sulfur dioxide 1.2 times above permissible levels. Following court rulings on August 29 and October 13, 2025, 23 units and 919 workshops of the company were temporarily closed.

Overall, documents for 20 enterprises violating environmental regulations were submitted to the court, resulting in operational restrictions. In addition, 127 illegal lime-burning kilns were dismantled.

Under the government’s April 12, 2021, decree No. 202, compensation payments totaling 10.348 billion UZS were imposed: 2.5 billion UZS for NavoiAzot JSC, 7 billion UZS for Sogda Kimyo Zavod LLC, and 0.5 billion UZS for other enterprises.

Moreover, 37 administrative protocols were issued against responsible individuals, and over 220 mandatory instructions were given to the enterprises to address the identified violations, with enforcement under strict monitoring.

Previously, similar inspections were carried out in Tashkent, targeting greenhouses and enterprises that violated air quality standards. These inspections monitored air quality, identified main pollution sources, and implemented measures to eliminate them.