CARBON CAPTURE AND UTILIZATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR UZBEKISTAN

The increasing concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) is one of the major drivers of global climate change, prompting governments and industries to seek effective decarbonization strategies. Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) has emerged as a promising approach that not only reduces industrial CO₂ emissions but also converts captured carbon into valuable products such as methanol, urea, synthetic fuels, polymers, and construction materials. The chemical industry is among the largest industrial emitters of CO₂ due to its reliance on fossil fuels and energy-intensive production processes. Uzbekistan, whose economy depends heavily on natural gas, fertilizer production, and petrochemical manufacturing, possesses significant opportunities for implementing CCU technologies.