Assessment of CO₂ Emission and Decarbonization Measures in Uzbekistan

Abstract

As climate change becomes the greatest issue of this century, countries are looking for sustainable solutions to effectively control their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Uzbekistan, being one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change effects, is taking notable actions toward a low-carbon economy. In this line, there is a significant need for a thorough assessment of the country’s current decarbonization measures, its prospects, and possible directions of CO₂ emission reduction in both governmental and academic spheres, which is the primary aim of this research. To reach these objectives, this study estimates, for the first time, the carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission trends in Uzbekistan and their sector-by-sector contribution. Additionally, various carbon emission reduction pathways are discussed emphasizing the potential for the transition to renewable energy sources (RES) and carbon capture, storage, and utilization (CCSU) technology integration. According to the results, the annual CO₂ emission in Uzbekistan was about 116 Mt with 3.27 t per capita in 2021. Expectedly, with the share of 87%, power and industrial sectors contribute most to it. Over 80% of the country´s CO₂ emissions come from natural gas combustion, producing low-concentration flue gas. The resulting increased cost of CO₂ separation from large point sources decreases the CCSU application potential in the abundantly present oil and gas reservoirs. Under these circumstances, future investigations can focus on improving CO₂ separation, exploring onshore and offshore storage, integrating RES, and promoting collaborative decarbonization actions among neighbouring countries.

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

• The annual CO₂ emissions and their sector-by-sector contribution in Uzbekistan are estimated and compared with other statistical databases

• In 2021, Uzbekistan's annual CO₂ emissions were approximately 115.89 million metric tons, with a per capita rate of 3.274 metric tons.

• Power and industrial sectors contribute significantly, accounting for 87.7% of emissions.

• Modernizing and enhancing the existing power transmission infrastructure holds the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 2 million metric tons.

• Initial CO₂ capture cost was calculated based on CO₂ concentration in flue gases from various sources.

• Uzbekistan possesses a valuable opportunity to leverage CO₂ for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and Enhanced Gas Recovery (EGR) due to its abundant natural gas and oil wells.