A plant for generating alternative thermal energy through the incineration of medical waste has been launched in Tashkent.

At the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in accordance with Resolution No. 263 of July 17, 2024, “On measures to implement the investment project ‘Production of alternative thermal energy from medical waste’ under the ‘Zero Waste’ principle,” the U.S. company Sayar has launched the country’s first plant that generates alternative thermal energy by incinerating medical waste.

It should be noted that on April 13, 2024, an investment agreement was signed between the investor, the project company, and the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan on behalf of the Government.

According to this agreement, with the participation of the investor and the project company:

— In the first stage (2024–2025), it is planned to attract USD 7 million in direct investments to thermally process 6,000 tons of medical waste annually generated in all types of medical institutions in Tashkent city, Samarkand, and Bukhara regions, and to launch equipment with a capacity of 20 GWh per year.

— In the second stage (2026–2030), it is planned to attract USD 108 million in direct investments to thermally process 90,000 tons of medical waste annually generated in medical institutions across other regions of the republic, and to launch equipment with a capacity of 300 GWh per year.

As part of these measures, construction and installation works at City Hospital No. 16 in the Chilanzar district of Tashkent have been completed, incinerator equipment has been delivered, and the first plant has started operation. Currently, the plant incinerates 3 tons of medical waste per day, with a processing capacity of 6 tons per day operating over 20 hours.

It is worth noting that construction of the next plants intended for the effective disposal of medical waste is actively continuing at the 2nd Clinic of the Tashkent Medical Academy (TMA) in the Olmazor district of Tashkent and at the Tashkent Pediatric Medical Institute (TPMI) located in Tashkent district.