Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 21 July, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting to review the progress of joint projects in the oil and gas sector being implemented in cooperation with international partners.

As domestic demand continues to rise, Uzbekistan is steadily expanding its energy sector capacity. Thanks to the President’s foreign visits and the business forums held during these trips, the country has established active international cooperation, leading to the advancement of several promising initiatives.

One of the key areas of development is the partnership with Azerbaijan's state oil company SOCAR. The two sides have agreed to carry out exploration and extraction activities in the Ustyurt region, with plans to jointly conduct geological surveys at other potentially promising sites.

Uzbekistan is also actively cooperating with other countries on the development of complex fields, the introduction of digital technologies into the sector, the training of skilled professionals, and other strategic directions.

During the presentation, responsible officials reported on current achievements and outlined plans for further development. The President instructed them to accelerate the preparation of concrete project proposals for priority sites and to ensure the establishment of a full production cycle—from geological exploration to the output of finished products.

Special emphasis was placed on the need to implement modern drilling techniques and improve the efficiency of operating wells. This is expected to boost oil and gas production volumes by both joint ventures and foreign companies operating within the country.

The meeting also addressed preparations for the upcoming autumn-winter season. Officials reported on the measures being taken to increase energy production, inject natural gas into underground storage facilities, and ensure the stable delivery of resources.

Notably, construction is underway at the Talimarjan Thermal Power Plant, where two combined-cycle gas turbine units with a total capacity of 1,065 megawatts are being built. In the Syrdarya region, a new thermal power plant with a capacity of 1,573 megawatts is under construction. Together, these facilities will be capable of producing up to 20 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.

By the end of this year, several new hydroelectric power plants with a combined capacity of 162 megawatts are expected to be commissioned in the Tashkent, Namangan, Kashkadarya, and Surkhandarya regions. These plants are projected to generate around 648 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, helping to meet growing consumer demand and support the country's economic growth.

At the same time, the repair and modernization of the energy infrastructure—particularly the networks and substations—continue. Reserves of fuel, spare parts, and equipment necessary for the stable operation of thermal power plants are also being stockpiled.

The President set out further tasks to enhance the country’s energy infrastructure and ensure reliable, uninterrupted energy supply nationwide.