A video of black smoke coming from the Tashkent TPP and its entry into the city of Tashkent was circulated on social networks. The Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change announced that it has investigated the case.

On January 23-31, the Ministry of Ecology inspected the operation of Tashkent TPP located in the town of Salar, Kibray district, Tashkent region. It was found out that during the inspection, gas was considered the main fuel at the enterprise, and fuel oil was used as an additional fuel. Because of this, smoke covered the air of Tashkent city.

According to the results of the investigation, the TPP was imposed compensation in the amount of 1 billion 23 million soums (759 million for environmental pollution, 264 million for soil pollution with oil products).

“Besides, the TPP was given 16-item mandatory instructions to eliminate identified deficiencies. Currently, the collected documents are being sent to the judicial authorities in order to take appropriate measures against the TPP officials who committed the offense,” the ministry’s official report reads.

For information, the Ministry reported that in 2018, 118,900 tons of fuel oil were consumed at the Tashkent TPP, and in 2023, this figure exceeded 270,000 tons (a 2.3-fold increase).