Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Experts from the Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional Studies (IMRI) considered the use of ecological basalt in Uzbekistan.

With the development of the “green” economy, the need for energy-saving technologies, products and materials increases.

World experience shows that the housing sector consumes up to 40% of supplied thermal energy.

In buildings built between 1960 and 1990, up to 30% of the thermal energy used for heating is lost.

In “green construction”, innovative “green” technologies for thermal insulation of buildings and structures based on the use of environmental materials are being widely introduced.

Energy-saving and fire-resistant “green” fibrous materials, fabrics, fittings and other basalt products produced in Uzbekistan correspond to the innovative trend.

The main advantages of basalt:

environmental friendliness and heat resistance (does not emit toxic substances);

resistance to external negative influences;

durability and strength.

Explored reserves of basalt rocks in 10 deposits amount to 44 million tons, 52% of which are located in Jizzakh region. There are also deposits in Namangan, Navoi and Samarkand regions.

6 enterprises in the country produce more than 60 thousand tons of environmental products from basalt per year, including construction reinforcement with a diameter of 4 to 32 mm from basalt threads impregnated with binding polymers.

The republic is implementing a renovation program for 31 thousand apartment buildings, with insulation using environmentally friendly non-flammable basalt slabs. The use of basalt insulation during green renovation significantly reduces energy losses and greenhouse gas emissions.

Considering the significant resource potential, the presence of demand in the domestic and global markets, the environmental friendliness of the extraction of raw materials and production of the material, the expansion of the volume and range of basalt-based products is a promising direction for the development of the “green” economy.