Inspection for control in the field of mining industry and geology under the Ministry of Mining Industry and Geology of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The core of these reforms is the strategic task of ensuring transparency in subsoil use and reducing the "shadow" part of the economy. For this purpose, special Working Groups were established based on order No. 48 of the Ministry of Mining Industry and Geology, dated November 13, 2025. Today, these groups are conducting on-site investigations of suspicious cases identified using modern space technologies.

Space Monitoring: Analysis of 3,713 Suspicious Cases

The results of the first and second stages of space monitoring for 2025 revealed a total of 3,713 suspicious cases across the republic. These figures, obtained through satellite imagery, pointed to areas with a high probability of illegal subsoil use.

The regional breakdown is as follows:

• Samarkand region: 492

• Kashkadarya region: 476

• Bukhara region: 459

• Tashkent region: 388

• Namangan region: 351

• Republic of Karakalpakstan: 295

• Andijan region: 268

• Surkhandarya region: 263

• Navoi region: 237

• Fergana region: 188

• Khorezm region: 138

• Jizzakh region: 115

• Syrdarya region: 42

• Tashkent city: 1

Inventory and Digitalization: The Capabilities of the SGM Platform

As a result of rapid measures initiated by the Working Groups on November 17, 2025, a total of 3,518 cases (95% of the total) were inventoried on-site as of March 12 this year. To ensure the transparency of control measures, all data was digitized and entered into the SGM platform.

Currently, investigations have been fully completed in Andijan, Kashkadarya, Namangan, Syrdarya, Bukhara, Navoi, and Surkhandarya regions, as well as Tashkent city. Work is ongoing for the remaining 195 cases in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Jizzakh, Samarkand, Khorezm, Fergana, and Tashkent regions, with completion scheduled by March 15 of this year.

Control Results: Illegal Extraction and Legal Actions

The inspections revealed serious violations in subsoil use:

1. In 729 cases, facts of law violations were confirmed.

2. In 691 cases, suspicions were not confirmed.

3. In 2,098 cases, minerals were extracted illegally by unknown persons.

Most importantly, the monitoring identified a total of 3.8 million cubic meters of illegally excavated minerals. 2,351 investigation materials collected on these cases were submitted to law enforcement agencies for legal evaluation and strict measures against the offenders:

• To internal affairs bodies: 1,632 materials;

• To the Department for Combating Economic Crimes: 361 materials;

• To the prosecutor's office: 348 materials;

• To the State Security Service: 8 materials.

Analytical Conclusion: What do these results mean?

The results of this large-scale monitoring show that the implementation of space technology has severely restricted the room for maneuver for "shadow economy" actors. Illegal activities in areas previously invisible to the human eye or difficult to access are now clearly visible from space.

Strengthening the control system not only protects nature but also prevents the misappropriation of funds that should go to the state budget. This, in turn, serves to create an equal competitive environment for honest entrepreneurs and ensures that mineral wealth is preserved for future generations.