Uzbekistan's Investment in Waste-to-Energy Plants with ChinaCEFR B1
24 Oct 2025
Adapted from Brian Hioe, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Vincent Tint, Unsplash
AI-assisted adaptation of the original article, simplified for language learners.
Uzbekistan is launching a series of waste-to-energy (WTE) plants with funding from Chinese investors. The first plant is set to open in Andijan, turning waste into 240 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. This project aims to reduce pollution while generating energy, addressing the urgent waste problem in Uzbekistan.
As the government pushes for more WTE plants, concerns have been raised about the transparency of the agreements with the Chinese companies. There is a fear that the benefits may not be evenly distributed and that environmental and health impacts could arise. The government plans to construct more plants across various provinces.
Despite the optimism, challenges remain. Uzbekistan produces large amounts of waste, yet the recycling rate is low. Addressing these issues will require careful oversight to balance economic development and public health in the future.
Difficult words
- plant — a facility for producing something.plants
- waste — unwanted materials or substances.waste problem, waste-to-energy
- electricity — energy used for power and light.
- pollution — harmful substances in the environment.
- recycle — to process used materials for reuse.recycling
- energy — the power to do work or produce heat.
- government — the group of people who rule a country.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think transparency is important in agreements?
- What benefits might come from these plants?
- How can recycling be improved in Uzbekistan?
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