The Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan has hosted a high-level meeting with Haruki Yamasaki, CEO of Japanese firm Le One Co, to discuss a pilot project introducing cutting-edge environmental technologies.
During the meeting, Uzbek Minister Aziz Abdukhakimov and Yamasaki explored opportunities for bilateral cooperation, focusing on a newly funded initiative to promote green energy and waste-to-energy technologies in Uzbekistan.
The Japanese side confirmed that Le One Co secured a $4mn grant from Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) to implement the project between 2025 and 2030. The grant supports NEDO’s international program to promote advanced decarbonization and clean energy solutions developed in Japan.
The pilot project will see the construction of a methane production facility in Uzbekistan using biogas derived from the processing of biological waste. The initiative aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ensure safe waste disposal, produce biohumus for agriculture, and introduce high-standard purification processes based on Japanese technologies.
The project stresses Uzbekistan’s commitment to transitioning to a low-carbon economy, aligning with both the country’s strategic development agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Officials highlighted that the use of biogas as an alternative energy source presents a promising model for energy-efficient waste management.
Following the meeting, both parties agreed to draft and sign a formal agreement between Le One Co and Uzbekistan’s Agency for Waste Management and Development of the Circular Economy. The agreement will outline mutual responsibilities and serve as a framework for launching the pilot project.
The initiative builds on earlier developments—most notably a test run launched in early June in the Tashkent region, where synthetic methane was successfully produced using Japanese technology and a mix of propane and air. Plans are already underway to scale the technology nationwide.
