Toxic smog chokes Navoi as Ecology Ministry struggles to act

On the morning of August 4, 2025, Navoi city woke up to toxic smog for the 20th consecutive day, with no clear explanation for its persistence. Despite the Ministry of Ecology’s announcement four days ago that it had identified and halted the operations of the responsible enterprise, residents continue to breathe polluted air. Reports from locals, received by Kun.uz, confirm that the situation has not improved, with toxic emissions observed again this morning, as well as on previous days.

“The Ministry of Ecology claimed they investigated and shut down over 20 enterprises,” said one resident. “Yet, this morning, strong toxic substances were released into the atmosphere. People can see it with their eyes and feel it with every breath. Authorities are trying to convince us everything is fine, but allergic diseases are rising among the population.”

Another resident described difficulty breathing due to a sharp, coal-like odor enveloping the area. “People usually open their windows in the morning for fresh air, but we’re forced to keep them closed to block out the toxic air. Not everyone has air conditioning, and the heat makes it unbearable. This toxic smog is severely affecting the health of young children and the elderly,” they said.

Ecology Ministry’s misleading claims

Residents of Navoi and its surrounding areas, struggling with both polluted air and growing frustration, say their patience is wearing thin. The Ministry of Ecology previously stated that it had temporarily suspended the operations of over 20 enterprises polluting the air, including brick, slate, concrete slab, and lime factories, as well as chemical storage facilities, dairy processing plants, and phosphorus fertilizer producers. Even Navoiyazot, a major industrial player, faced fines and compensation demands. However, the ministry has not specified which enterprise is responsible for the ongoing toxic smog.

On July 31, the ministry reported forming three groups to investigate the ecological situation in Navoi and its adjacent areas, examining the operations of 168 industrial enterprises. So far, 42 enterprises have been inspected, with fines prepared for officials violating environmental regulations. Additionally, 22 enterprises had their operations temporarily suspended due to unpermitted activities, severe violations of air, land, and water protection standards, and the creation of unregulated waste dumps. These enterprises were given 10 days to address the issues, and legal action has been initiated to halt the operations of 19 non-compliant enterprises.

The ministry also announced the suspension of operations at Sogda Kimyo Zavod, Ferrosplav, and Zarafshon Industrial Technology LLC, located at the former Elektrokimyo plant site, for exceeding environmental pollution limits and violating regulations. These enterprises were granted 10 days to implement corrective measures. Tests conducted at Navoiyazot’s urea workshop on July 29 revealed ammonia levels 1.08 times above the permitted limit, while overnight tests from July 29 to 30 showed ammonia levels 1.5 times and hydrogen sulfide levels 36 times above acceptable thresholds.

Despite these measures, the situation has not improved, fueling residents’ concerns and protests.

Ecologist’s perspective

A representative from the Navoi Regional Ecology Department, speaking with Kun.uz, confirmed that investigations are ongoing but identifying the culprit is proving challenging.

“We’re struggling because automatic monitoring stations for emissions haven’t been installed,” the ecologist explained. “We can’t directly access factories and must measure air pollution from their surroundings. With so many factories, it’s hard to pinpoint the source. If monitoring stations were in place, we could track which enterprise exceeds chemical emission limits in real time via computer alerts. We could then prove their violations and halt operations until the issue is resolved. No enterprise has installed these stations yet – it needs to be mandated from above.”

Automatic monitoring stations, designed to track and analyze atmospheric pollution, measure the quantity of harmful substances released and assess their environmental impact. According to the Navoi Regional Ecology Department, these stations, once integrated with the ministry’s systems, would allow real-time detection of excessive toxic gas or substance emissions from factories.

Installation of these stations is mandatory for Category I enterprises by January 1, 2026, and for Category II enterprises by July 1, 2026. In Navoi, there are 71 Category I and 218 Category II enterprises, with 122 located around Navoi city. This list is not final.

Ongoing concerns

On July 13, 19, 21, and 22, Navoi city was engulfed by a pungent, thick smog, causing coughing and other health issues among residents. Navoiyazot issued statements denying responsibility, and camera footage suggested that dust-like smog originated from enterprises built on the site of the former Elektrokimyo plant. Initially, the Regional Ecology Department pointed to Navoiyazot as the culprit, but after the company’s firm denials, authorities shifted focus to identifying the true source.