Boysun residents left in the dark as Emergency Ministry offers no clear answers for gas emissions

A press conference announced to include senior officials from the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) was instead attended by a department head, deputy department head, and a specialist. Key questions raised by a Kun.uz reporter regarding the future of Boysun and the potential relocation of residents in certain villages remained unanswered.

The journalist asked about the M25 gas field, where periodic gas emissions have been reported:

• What is the overall outlook for Boysun moving forward?
• Is there a possibility of evacuating residents living near the gas field?
• Could a state of emergency be declared in areas affected by gas emissions?

Despite raising these concerns at the MES press conference on May 19, the reporter received no clear response from the attending officials.

It is worth noting that although the event was initially advertised as involving the ministry’s leadership, the highest-ranking participant present was a department head.

Following the questions about Boysun, Samandar Hikmatullaev, Deputy Head of the MES Press Service, chose not to address possible developments in the situation. Instead, he focused on other aspects:

“Gas leaks and poisoning incidents occurred in Boysun even before drilling began. Local residents were aware of this. After drilling commenced, the high pressure caused compressed gas between the layers to be released more intensively. This has continued, and gas emissions are still ongoing. Currently, the gas is being flared. Why is it being flared? The main goal is to protect the surrounding environment from harmful gases. Engineering and technical measures are being implemented at the site. The gas containment process is being handled by specialized organizations. I don’t have specific data on this. The main information is with the ERIELL company, which is carrying out the drilling, not with us,” the MES official said.

In December, an explosion at a propane station in Fergana city claimed lives. The Kun.uz reporter asked MES representatives whether it is appropriate to build gas stations so close to residential areas and kindergartens. In response, Hikmatullaev only said that construction must comply with regulatory standards but did not comment on the specific incident in Fergana.

On May 8, part of the embankment of the South Fergana Canal collapsed in Buloqboshi district of Andijan region, flooding the Sarvontepa neighborhood. Residents told a Kun.uz journalist who was on-site that water had started leaking from the canal nearly two weeks prior. When asked about this, the MES representative again stated they had no specific information.

“We currently have no data on this. Regarding such matters, people often associate civil protection leaders with local district or regional heads, or even mahalla (neighborhood) chairpersons. [The editor notes this may be a reference to leaks beginning as early as April 24.] MES received the report on May 8 at around 9:00 a.m., and actions were initiated based on that notification,” the official explained.

Finally, a question about whether any MES-affiliated organization had approved the construction of a hydroelectric power station (HPP) on the South Fergana Canal also went unanswered.