What the Fergana pilot is designed to deliver.
These targets reflect the pilot's design parameters — final confirmed values will be published once technology selection and registry certification are complete.
All figures are current estimates based on the pilot design. Final confirmed values will be published after technology selection.
Special Economic Zone allocation
The pilot plant is sited on 5 hectares identified inside the Fergana Valley Special Economic Zone — a designation that provides streamlined permitting and infrastructure support for industrial development.
The plant is designed to accommodate both the pyrolysis line and biochar handling, with room for future expansion.
Facility overview
Institutional partners for the Fergana Valley program.
Active cooperation
- ICAC — International Cotton Advisory Committee: advisory role on cotton residue management and regional agricultural coordination
- Ministry of Agriculture — Republic of Uzbekistan: advisory role on soil restoration methodology and national agricultural policy alignment
Institutional logos reflect active cooperation agreements. Institutional presence does not imply endorsement of financial terms or investment recommendations.
What's secured — and what comes next.
Nine residue types, one regional supply network.
Feedstock is sourced from locally available agricultural surplus — residue that would otherwise be burned or left unmanaged in the field.
| Residue type | Source | Seasonality | Role in biochar program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton stalks | Cotton fields | Post-harvest (Oct-Dec) | Primary feedstock — high lignin content ideal for pyrolysis |
| Wheat straw | Grain fields | Summer harvest | Secondary feedstock — available between cotton seasons |
| Orchard pruning | Fruit orchards | Dormant season | Supplementary — woody biomass for consistent reactor feed |
| Rice husk | Rice paddies | Autumn | Supplementary — silica-rich, useful for specific biochar grades |
| Corn stover | Corn fields | Post-harvest | Supplementary — high-volume residue in some districts |
Feedstock planning accounts for existing uses (animal bedding, fuel) and sources from locally available surplus. Supplier agreements are structured to avoid displacing current uses.
Your questions, answered.
The pilot plant is currently in the technology selection and certification phase. An operational timeline will be confirmed once equipment procurement and registry pathway are finalized. We expect to share a detailed project schedule with partners during the briefing process.
SmartCarbon is evaluating Puro.earth, Isometric, Verra VM0044, Gold Standard, and the European Biochar Certificate. Selection is based on monitoring requirements, buyer recognition, and fit with the project's data infrastructure. A primary pathway will be confirmed during the technology selection phase.
Feedstock is sourced from a network of local suppliers within the 72,000 ha cotton catchment area. A signed supply letter confirms pilot-stage residue delivery terms, with pricing and logistics structured to support consistent reactor feed without displacing existing uses of each residue type.
Yes — the Fergana pilot is designed as the first of a national rollout. The long-term target is to scale to up to 50,000 ha of remediated land by year five, with a replicable playbook for other cotton-growing regions in Uzbekistan.
Want the full program documentation?
Request a briefing to access detailed program data, land and feedstock documentation, and the technical feasibility framework.