Oil Spill Reported in Surkhandarya After Flooding

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The National Committee on Ecology of Uzbekistan issued an official statement on 24 April regarding oil contamination in the Surkhandarya River, a right tributary of the Amu Darya. The clarification followed the circulation of social media videos showing polluted water.

According to official information, the incident occurred due to a sudden rise in the river’s water level.

Floodwaters damaged isolated containment pits previously constructed to collect oil. These structures were built by ERIELL Group in January–February this year in the form of earthen dams to prevent oil from entering water bodies. Earlier, natural seepage of oil-contaminated fluid had been observed in the area during drilling operations.

On 23 April, after heavy rainfall in the Boysun District, water levels in the Khangaronsay River rose significantly, causing floodwaters to overflow temporary embankments. As a result, water mixed with oil flowed first into the Bandikhonsay River in Bandikhan district and then reached the Surkhandarya River in the Kumkurgan area.

On the same day, ERIELL Group restored several damaged containment pits along the Khangaronsay section in the Kofrun area, after which the leakage was fully stopped.

The Ministry of Water Resources reported that basin irrigation authorities in the Amu-Surkhandarya system and regional services have intensified monitoring in risk-prone areas, organizing round-the-clock supervision.

Cleanup operations are ongoing using specialized equipment. Two working groups have been formed to assess the volume and composition of contaminated water.

Investigations are continuing, and further information will be provided upon completion.

The National Committee on Ecology stated that, following the investigation, appropriate legal measures will be taken against responsible parties.