The Institute conducted its activities in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PF-5742 of June 17, 2019, "On Measures for the Effective Use of Land and Water Resources in Agriculture"; Resolution No. PQ-6024 of July 10, 2020, "On Approving the Concept for the Development of Water Management in the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2020-2030"; Resolution No. PQ-439 of December 7, 2022, "On Additional Measures to Regulate the Protection and Rational Use of Groundwater Resources"; Decree No. PF-116 of July 27, 2023, "On Measures for the Effective Organization of State Management in the Mining and Geology Sector within the Framework of Administrative Reforms"; Decree No. PF-158 of September 11, 2023, "On Approving the 'Uzbekistan-2030' Strategy"; Resolution No. PQ-335 of September 23, 2024, "On Additional Measures for the Further Development of Medical and Wellness Tourism in the Republic of Uzbekistan"; Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 430 of June 27, 2017, "On Measures to Further Regulate Activities in the Field of Groundwater Use"; Resolution No. 41 of January 25, 2022, "On Additional Measures to Transform the Aral Sea Region into a Zone of Ecological Innovations and Technologies"; and Resolution No. 11 of the Ministry of Mining and Geology of September 15, 2023, "On Measures to Accelerate Geological Exploration and Involve New Unconventional Deposits in Development to Expand the Uranium Raw Material Base in the Republic."
In 2025, 11 research and development projects were implemented across 6 priority areas:
1. Exploration, prospecting, confirmation of reserves, and assessment of groundwater resources (4 projects);
2. Diversification of hydromineral resource sources and assessment of their prospects (2 projects);
3. Assessment of the geoecological and reclamation-hydrogeological state of territories and groundwater protection (1 project);
4. Hydrogeological and engineering-geological studies of engineering-geodynamic processes and mining operations (2 projects);
5. Improvement of the optimal groundwater monitoring system based on modern technologies (1 project);
6. Training of highly qualified specialists through the postgraduate education institute, and editorial and publishing activities (1 project).
The work carried out yielded the following significant results:
In the area of "Exploration, prospecting, confirmation of reserves, and assessment of groundwater resources":
- Under the project "Substantiation of non-traditional methods for the assessment and use of groundwater resources," two gallery-type water intake facilities were commissioned, and 18 promising sites for the construction of such facilities were identified. The methodology for assessing (reassessing) the forecasted resources of groundwater deposits was improved. A hydrogeological model was created for the Olmos-Varzik groundwater deposit in the Namangan region and the Zomin groundwater deposit in the Jizzakh region.
- As part of the project "Assessment of groundwater distribution patterns in poorly studied territories of the republic and the level of provision for Uzbekistan's water needs until 2050 through groundwater," a 1:500,000 scale map of river paleochannels was created. Geophysical surveys were conducted at four promising sites in the Qashqadaryo (Obikanda, Yakkabog) and Surxondaryo (Qizilolma, Dashnobod) regions. Consequently, the results of the geophysical survey conducted in the Yakkabog area were implemented by the State Enterprise "Uzbekgidrogeologiya."
- Within the framework of the project "Use of modern GIS technologies in hydrogeology, engineering geology, and geoecology," 5 promising anomalous zones for groundwater were identified at the Acha site. The boundaries of a promising uranium-bearing layer were identified in Sugrali. In Mullali, ancient riverbed deposits of the Syr Darya were discovered at depths of up to 110 m with a thickness of 40-60 m. Four promising anomalous zones for groundwater were identified in Majrumsoy. Seismic and geoelectric cross-sections were compiled for the 3D model of the Ohangaron site. A small-scale modular penetration drilling rig was developed. A methodology was developed for prospecting and identifying promising areas for the accumulation of fractured groundwater in foothill and desert regions.
- Within the framework of the project "Improving the Methodology for Zoning Hydrogeological Systems and Substantiating the Modern Boundaries of Groundwater Deposits on This Basis," a special hydrogeological map of the exploited aquifer (QIII) of the Chirchik groundwater deposit in the Tashkent Hydrogeological Region was created, and the preliminary boundary of the deposit was established. The current state of the Chirchik, Ongkirgok, Chapkirgok, and Chirchik-Keles deposits in the Tashkent Hydrogeological Region was assessed, a hydrogeological model was created for each deposit, and 14 promising areas were identified for exploitation for various purposes. The predicted boundary of the South Aral artesian basin was determined.
In the area of "Diversification and Assessment of the Prospects of Hydromineral Resource Sources":
- Within the framework of the project "Assessing the Potential of Hydromineral Resources in Surkhandarya, Kashkadarya, and Bukhara Regions and Developing Recommendations for Their Effective Use," the therapeutic, wellness, and resort-recreational potential of underground mineral and medicinal spring waters in the Surkhandarya region was studied. A map of balneological and recreational areas was compiled, and an album detailing the characteristics of the springs was created. Proposals were developed for advancing medical and wellness tourism and recreational opportunities in the Boysun, Sherobod, Termiz, Jarqo'rg'on, and Oltinsoy districts. Scientific recommendations for assessing the condition of Omonkhona spring water and providing an additional water supply were implemented at the Omonkhona sanatorium. A map of the mineral waters, springs, and resort-recreational areas of the Qashqadaryo region was also compiled. Regulatory, technical, and legal documents in the field of studying and developing groundwater (mineral, thermal, and industrial) were reviewed, and four updated guidelines were developed.
- As part of the project "Assessing the Potential of Hydromineral Resources in the Aral Sea Region and Developing Recommendations for Their Effective Use," field research was conducted, and 30 water and soil samples were collected. Based on the results of the chemical analysis, an album was created illustrating the properties of the mineral waters.
In the area of "Assessment of the Geoecological and Meliorative-Hydrogeological State of Territories and Groundwater Protection":
Within the project "Assessment of the Impact of Natural and Technogenic Factors on the Geoecological State of Transboundary Territories and the Meliorative State of Certain Irrigated Lands, and the Impact of Climate Change on Groundwater and Land Degradation," meliorative-hydrogeological models of groundwater levels, their temporal changes, flow directions, and the distribution of toxic salts were created for the Kasbi and Koson districts of the Qashqadaryo region. The content and distribution of hypothetical salts, toxic and non-toxic salts (Na2SO4, Na2CO3, CaSO3, etc.) in irrigated areas were studied, and their changes by 2030 were forecasted. Measures were developed to improve the meliorative state or prevent its deterioration. In the Surxondaryo region, 11 areas where the geoecological environment has changed due to the influence of climate change were identified. A methodology for the geoecological zoning of territories according to the degree of groundwater pollution and land degradation was developed.
In the area of "Engineering-Geodynamic Processes and Hydrogeological and Engineering-Geological Research in Mining Operations":
- As part of the project "Substantiating the use of remote sensing for regional monitoring to study risk levels and provide early warning of landslide processes," the "space-air-ground" method was applied for the first time. Using a drone, 50 areas with landslide potential were identified. The remote sensing method also identified 30 sites of slope base erosion, which determine the location of landslide occurrences. The risks of ancient landslides that occurred in Uzbekistan over the past 65 years, as well as current landslides, were assessed.
- Within the framework of the project "Development of a complex of engineering-geological, hydrogeological, and geophysical methods for assessing the fracture and strength indicators of an underground mine structure," geophysical research using the seismotomography method was conducted for the first time in Uzbekistan at the Northern mineral deposit. A block diagram model was developed for all deposits included in the research. The mechanism of deformation process development at the Northern deposit was also studied.
In the area of "Improving the Optimal Groundwater Monitoring System Based on Modern Technologies":
As part of the project "Development of an Information-Analytical Database of All Groundwater Aquifers of the Republic of Uzbekistan," data from approximately 1,020 boreholes in groundwater deposits have been digitized. For 8 groundwater deposits in the Qashqadaryo region, 4 sets of cartographic data and 57 hydrogeological and geological-lithological sections have been digitized. 30 geological exploration reports were digitized using ArcGIS software. A geodatabase of the Qashqadaryo region's groundwater deposits has been developed, and their conceptual models have been created.
In the area of "Training of Highly Qualified Specialists through the Institute of Postgraduate Education and Editorial and Publishing Activities":
A total of 33 researchers conducted scientific research at the Institute of Postgraduate Education, which operates under the main Institute. Among them, 5 are full-time doctoral students and 28 are independent researchers. In 2025, 3 dissertations for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) were successfully defended. The Higher Attestation Commission awarded 5 "Senior Researcher" academic title certificates to the Institute's specialists. In 2025, a total of 233 scientific works were published and 23 intellectual property objects were obtained.
On November 20-21, 2025, the State Institution "Institute of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology" hosted an international scientific and practical conference on "Modern Problems in Hydrogeology, Engineering Geology, and Geoecology and Their Solutions," dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the Institute's founding.
On April 23, 2025, a launch ceremony was held at the University of Geological Sciences for the grant project "Creation of an Integrated Management System for Mineral Resources and Geological Hazards in Uzbekistan" for 2025-2029, funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
On October 31, 2025, the "Safe Mountains for the Population" campaign was organized in the mountainous areas of the Tashkent region as part of the "Reducing the Vulnerability of the Population to Glacial Lake Outbursts in the Context of Climate Change in the Central Asia Region (GLOFCA-2025) " project, implemented by the "GIDROINGEO Institute" SI in cooperation with UNESCO.
