According to data from the State Statistics Agency, the volume of gas extraction fell sharply to 44.6 billion cubic meters in 2024, down from 46.7 billion cubic meters in 2023.
To put this into perspective, this 2.1 billion cubic meter decrease could have satisfied the domestic needs of several regions and organizations. For example, in 2023, regions outside of Tashkent city and province (each) had annual gas requirements significantly lower than 2 billion cubic meters, with Samarkand, the most populous region, receiving 1.6 billion cubic meters of gas.
This reduction in gas extraction can be compared with the consumption by residents and businesses across the provinces. In particular, in 2023, Uzbekistan’s total natural gas consumption amounted to 47.5 billion cubic meters, of which 20.4 billion cubic meters were provided for technical and domestic needs. Gas was delivered to various regions in the following amounts:
Republic of Karakalpakstan — 1.368 billion cubic meters
Andijan region — 1.088 billion cubic meters
Bukhara region — 1.301 billion cubic meters
Jizzakh region — 830 million cubic meters
Kashkadarya region — 766.3 million cubic meters
Navoi region — 669.4 million cubic meters
Namangan region — 1.134 billion cubic meters
Samarkand region — 1.577 billion cubic meters
Surkhandarya region — 676.6 million cubic meters
Syrdarya region — 501.9 million cubic meters
Tashkent region — 3.522 billion cubic meters
Fergana region — 1.937 billion cubic meters
Khorezm region — 1.244 billion cubic meters
Tashkent City — 3.757 billion cubic meters
The volume of gas extracted in Uzbekistan has fluctuated over the years. According to data from the State Statistics Agency, the gas extraction figures from 2010 to 2022 were as follows:
- 2010: 65.9 billion cubic meters
- 2011: 63 billion cubic meters
- 2012: 61.5 billion cubic meters
- 2013: 58.3 billion cubic meters
- 2014: 54.1 billion cubic meters
- 2015: 54.6 billion cubic meters
- 2016: 56.1 billion cubic meters
- 2017: 56.6 billion cubic meters
- 2018: 61.6 billion cubic meters
- 2019: 56 billion cubic meters
- 2020: 49.8 billion cubic meters
- 2021: 53.8 billion cubic meters
- 2022: 51.7 billion cubic meters
On January 28, 2022, the president signed a decree regarding the “Strategy for the Development of New Uzbekistan for 2022–2026.” This document outlined a goal to increase natural gas extraction to 56.3 billion cubic meters in 2022, restoring the levels of 2019. However, the actual volume for 2022 was 51.7 billion cubic meters, 2.1 billion cubic meters less than in 2021. The goal to increase gas extraction set in the decree was not achieved in either 2023 or 2024. In fact, gas extraction has sharply declined since 2023.
In 2023, the president signed the “Uzbekistan – 2030” strategy, setting even more ambitious goals. Among these was a target to increase natural gas extraction to 62 billion cubic meters by 2030. However, even reaching the 2022 level remains uncertain, as 2024 saw the lowest gas extraction in the past 15 years.
The outlook for this year is also grim, as gas extraction figures are expected to continue declining. This is largely due to Uzbekistan’s largest gas producer, Uzbekneftegaz JSC, significantly reducing its projections. The company announced that it expects to extract 26.5 billion cubic meters of gas in 2025, down from an earlier forecast of 34.1 billion cubic meters. This 7.5 billion cubic meter reduction is substantial.
Despite the ongoing decline in extraction, gas exports have not been halted. In fact, last year, Uzbekistan exported 18.4% more natural gas, totaling $627.6 million, compared to $529 million in 2023.
At the same time, 2024 saw a record for gas imports. The country imported nearly $1.679 billion worth of gas, compared to $695 million in 2023.
