GREEN TRANSFORMATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF KEY INDUSTRIES IN SURKHANDARYA REGION THROUGH RESOURCE EFFICIENCY

The study examines the dynamics of green transformation and resource efficiency in the energy and industrial system of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with a particular focus on the Surkhandarya region, drawing on the Porter hypothesis, decoupling theory, and the Brundtland Commission's sustainable development framework. Official data from the government, the Central Asian Development Bank, the International Energy Agency (IEA), Enerdata, and the Ministry of Energy are used for four reference dates: 2019, 1 January 2023, end-2025, and 1 June 2026. Using objective coefficient-of-variation weighting, a composite Green Transformation and Resource Efficiency Index is constructed from three indicators: installed renewable energy capacity, total installed generation capacity, and the share of renewables in total installed capacity. The index increased from 0.355 in 2019 ("Low" level) to 0.405 on 1 January 2023 ("Medium" level) and reached 0.986 by end-2025 ("Very High" level). The Surkhandarya case study examines three resource-efficiency-oriented projects: the 456.7 MW Sherabad solar photovoltaic power plant, the modernised and export-oriented AMMC Sherabad cement plant, and the Surkhon-Agro Free Economic Zone. The findings indicate that resource-efficiency-oriented industrial policy can contribute to strengthening regional competitiveness and reducing poverty. At the same time, continued dependence on natural gas and existing constraints in electricity transmission and energy-storage infrastructure are identified as key factors affecting the pace of the green transition. The study develops policy recommendations aimed at accelerating investment in electricity grids and energy-storage systems, strengthening energy-efficiency requirements for newly commissioned industrial capacity, and systematically monitoring regional progress against national green-economy targets.