Uztransgaz and Uzenergosotish lose market monopolies amid WTO reforms

Under the decree, the state-owned company Uzenergosotish has been stripped of its status as the sole electricity purchaser in Uzbekistan. Other companies will now be allowed to engage in wholesale and retail electricity trade, provided they obtain the appropriate licenses.

The exclusive right of Uztransgaz to operate as the only transporter of natural gas has also been revoked. However, the company will continue to handle gas supply operations, including the import and export of natural gas.

Back in June 2024, the president ordered the abolition of exclusive rights held by several state-owned enterprises, including Uzmetkombinat, Uzvtortsvezmet, Uzkimyoimpex, and Uztrade, as part of the country’s WTO accession efforts.

At the same time, he launched a pilot program allowing mobile network operators to connect directly to external internet channels. It was previously announced that, starting from July 2026, the state monopolies UzGasTrade and Uzenergosotish would be dismantled to pave the way for a competitive wholesale energy market.

In February of this year, the president also canceled exclusive rights held by Uzbekexpertiza, Uzengineering, the Uzbek Institute of Standards, and Sag Agro MTP. On that occasion, he also introduced a comprehensive list of justifications for granting exclusive rights and limited their duration to three years.