Uzbekistan Begins Work to Shut Down Emergency M-25 Well

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Practical work to shut down an emergency well at the Mustaqillikning 25 yilligi gas field officially began on 15 August in Baysun district of Surkhandarya region. Uzbekneftegaz JSC reported this.

Uzbekneftegaz Chairman Abdugani Sanginov, Baysun district Hokim Bakhodir Shukurov and other local government representatives arrived at the field following the start of the work. They met with activists from the village of Kofrun and specialists from Chinese corporation CNPC, which has begun implementing the project.

During the meeting, the participants explained the importance of the project and the main measures to be carried out in stages over the coming months to shut down the emergency well. An open discussion with local residents was also held.

In February 2026, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said at a meeting that a technical solution to the M-25 emergency had been developed jointly with international partners. In June 2026, Sanginov said the consequences of the accident were expected to be fully eliminated in the first half of 2027.

Problems at the field began on 1 September 2024, when a gas leak with a high hydrogen sulfide content was recorded at well No. 604. According to official data, there were no casualties at the time.

On 17 September 2024, another leak occurred at the same well, killing four people and injuring 11 others, who were hospitalized. Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov later described the incident as one of the six largest industrial accidents in Uzbekistan’s history. Well No. 604 was brought under control by mid-September 2024.

However, in March and May 2025, new gas blowouts with high hydrogen sulfide content were recorded twice at another well at the field, No. 202. Controlled burning was carried out to prevent the gas from spreading.

The 25 Years of Independence field (M-25) ranks first among Uzbekistan’s undeveloped assets in terms of gas reserves. Its reserves are estimated at 150 billion to 170 billion cubic metres, with most of the reserves containing a high concentration of hydrogen sulfide.

In 2006–2008, Malaysia’s Petronas, together with Uzbekneftegaz, conducted 3D seismic surveys of the Gajak area, the field’s former name, and drilled one well, investing US$102 million in the project. Petronas subsequently withdrew from the project due to a change in its investment policy and the complexity of developing the field.

In April 2017, the Uzbek government signed a 35-year production sharing agreement with an investor consortium comprising Uzneftegazdobycha, Gas Project Development Central Asia and Cyprus-based Altmax Holding for further exploration and development of M-25. The total project was valued at US$5.8 billion, including US$2.9 billion for the construction of a gas-chemical complex with a processing capacity of 5 billion cubic metres of gas per year. Drilling was carried out by Eriell, while Enter Engineering was responsible for the design, equipment and construction of the infrastructure.

In November 2023, President Mirziyoyev visited the complex under construction. At the time, about half of the US$2.9 billion investment had been utilised, 20 wells had been drilled and 11 had been tested. The launch of the first phase was planned for May 2024, with full capacity expected to be reached in 2025.