Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The international cement holding United Cement Group is participating in the national project of Uzbekistan "Yashil Makon" ("Green Land"), an environmental initiative of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The leading cement production plant in Uzbekistan, Kyzylkumcement JSC, which is part of the United Cement Group (UCG) holding, planted 3,000 seedlings of elm and other ornamental trees, as well as 200 seedlings of saxaul in Navoi region of the republic in the spring of 2023. This is the next stage of active participation of the UCG holding in the Green Land project, aimed at planting greenery in the regions of Uzbekistan, where industrial enterprises are historically located.

Earlier, in the fall of 2022, with the support of UCG, as part of the implementation of investment obligations that were fully implemented, 3,200 tree seedlings and 500 kg of shrub seeds were planted in the sanitary protection zone of the enterprise on an area of 11 hectares. However, the holding team does not stop and continues to support environmental programs in the republic.

The Yashil Makon (Green Land) project was launched in accordance with the decree of the head of state Shavkat Mirziyoyev “On measures to accelerate planting work and further effective organization of tree protection in the republic”. This is part of the president’s ambitious environmental initiative, which will plant a billion trees and shrubs across Uzbekistan by 2026 to mitigate the effects of man-made pressure and the greenhouse effect in the hot climate of the republic. Unpretentious ornamental trees and shrubs are able to absorb dust in large volumes, preserve the ecosystem and maintain the average air temperature.

“UCG Holding has been actively involved in the Green Land project in cooperation with local authorities, environmental organizations and residents of the region,” says Sergey Melnikov, General Director of Kyzylkumcement JSC. — Concern for the ecology of the territory where the production is located is a trend of the modern cement industry, which is fully consistent with our internal policy and high environmental and social responsibility. All plants of the holding are being modernized with regard to green technologies, with the introduction of innovations to reduce the impact on the environment. The landscaping of Navoi region is our contribution to the protection of the nature and ecology of Uzbekistan.”

In ] Navoi region, the climate is desert and arid. Due to the lack of water, UCG specialists applied advanced irrigation methods: a drip irrigation system was installed from two tanks, 60 tons each. Thanks to this, the enterprise will be able to plant watermelons, melons and pumpkins this year, which will have a positive impact on the environment. Kyzylkumcement JSC takes an active part in the waste management program, as well as in the development of local ecotourism routes. Emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere and compliance with MPE standards are constantly monitored by a special department for ecology at the plant and in the holding.

“The environmental initiative of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev coincided with our values and the need to comply with international standards of sustainable development: increase energy efficiency, reduce emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere, introduce green technologies,” says Sergey Melnikov. - The Republic of Uzbekistan has taken a course to improve the living standards of its citizens, improve air quality in cities and preserve nature. The Green Edge project contributes to the fulfillment of the country’s obligations under the Paris Agreement on climate change mitigation and adaptation to climate impacts. The Green Land project is an example of effective cooperation between business, government and society, and UCG, as the owner of a number of cement enterprises in Uzbekistan, readily supports it.”

Kyzylkumcement JSC will continue to participate in the implementation of the Green Land project and strive to improve the environmental situation in the region. Successful and responsible environmental and social activities of UCG should become an example and a call for active participation for other industrial enterprises in Uzbekistan.