Consortium Secures USD1 billion Deal for Uzbekistan’s Largest Wastewater Treatment Plant

A consortium of global players — Abu Dhabi Sustainable Water Solutions Company (SWS), Marubeni Corporation and Suez — has secured a landmark joint development agreement with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade and Uzsuvtaminot for a wastewater treatment plant project, reports the Emirates News Agency. The facility will the largest of its kind in Uzbekistan and the broader Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). This ambitious project in Tashkent is set to significantly enhance the region’s water infrastructure.

The project, worth more than USD1 billion, will produce 1.5 million cubic metres of treated water per day, marking a crucial step in Uzbekistan’s journey toward sustainable water management. The agreement underscores the growing economic ties between the UAE and Uzbekistan, with the plant poised to drive economic progress in Tashkent and surrounding areas.

Key signatories of the agreement included Laziz Kudratov, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade; Ahmed Al Shamsi, Managing Director and CEO of SWS; Akhmad Suvankulov, Chairman of Uzsuvtaminot; alongside consortium partners Kazuaki Shibuya, General Manager of Marubeni’s Environmental Infrastructure Department, and Silvere Delaunay, CEO of Suez for the CIS region.

The construction of the project is expected to begin in 2026, with the plant scheduled to become fully operational by 2030. Upon completion, the facility will serve approximately three million people in Tashkent and surrounding cities and replace the two existing wastewater treatment plants in Salar and Bektimir.

Under the agreement, SWS, Marubeni, and Suez will lead the development, financing, engineering, procurement and construction of the wastewater treatment plant and associated sewer trunk lines. The consortium will also manage the plant’s operations and maintenance for 25 years, ensuring long-term sustainability. Upon completion, Uzsuvtaminot will take over the operation of the newly constructed sewer lines.

Laziz Kudratov highlighted that this project exemplifies the deepening collaboration between the UAE and Uzbekistan, contributing to crucial infrastructure that enhances the quality of life in Tashkent and the CIS region. This initiative also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focusing on clean water, sanitation and sustainable cities.

Ahmed Al Shamsi emphasised the consortium’s commitment to providing large-scale sustainable water solutions, while Akhmad Suvankulov noted the project’s alignment with Uzbekistan’s broader economic development goals, ensuring a prosperous future for Tashkent’s residents through sustainable progress.

Our partnership with SWS underscores our mutual commitment to deepening collaboration between the UAE and Uzbekistan, nurturing stronger ties and common strategic objectives to ensure a secure and sustainable environmental solution. This project contributes to the realisation of Uzbekistan’s economic development ambitions, and builds a prosperous future for the people of Tashkent, benefiting from our combined experiences and unwavering dedication to achieving sustainable progress for generations to come.

Akhmad Suvankulov, Chairman of the Board at Uzsuvtaminot