New Head of Uzbekneftegaz Pledges Strategy Approval and Gas Production Stabilization

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Abdugani Sanginov has been appointed as the new head of the state-owned company Uzbekneftegaz, replacing Bahodirjon Sidikov, who moved to another position. Previously, Sanginov headed Uzbekgidroenergo.

A meeting at Uzbekneftegaz, attended by Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Jamshid Kuchkarov, introduced the new chairman of the board and discussed pressing industry issues, including production stabilization. The company noted that despite favorable conditions created for industry development, expected results have yet to be achieved, which has drawn criticism.

To address these challenges, plans include elevating geological exploration and production activities to a new level, reviewing operations in each sector with strict and effective measures, implementing an organizational structure aligned with international standards, and applying modern management approaches. The format of cooperation with foreign partners and the efficiency of financial resource utilization will also be analyzed.

Abdugani Sanginov announced his intention to approve a new Uzbekneftegaz Transformation Strategy as soon as possible and to stabilize gas production, achieving systemic results in the sector.

By presidential order, the position of Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance for the Oil and Gas Sector has been established to strengthen management in the sector and implement systemic reforms.

Earlier, Minister of Energy Jurabek Mirzamahmudov stated that in 2026 Uzbekistan plans to halt the decline in natural gas production through new fields in Karakalpakstan.

According to the State Committee on Statistics, gas production in the first ten months of 2025 amounted to 35.5 billion cubic meters, 1.8 billion cubic meters less than the same period in 2024 and 3.5 billion cubic meters less than in 2023.