Uzbekistan Updates Plans for Gas Production for 2026-2030

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The updated “Uzbekistan-2030” Strategy, published for public discussion on the SOVAZ platform, envisages a sharp increase in natural gas production.

By 2030, gas production is planned to reach 186.8 billion cubic meters, more than three times the target of the previous strategy approved in September 2023, which aimed for 62 billion cubic meters.

In 2026, production is expected to continue declining to 37.9 billion cubic meters, in line with the current trend: over the first 11 months of 2025, production amounted to 38.9 billion cubic meters, 5.1% lower than in 2024.

However, a sharp increase is forecasted for 2027, with production expected to reach 73.5 billion cubic meters. In 2028, it could rise to 106.9 billion, and in 2029 — 148.1 billion cubic meters.

Responsibility for achieving the new targets is assigned to the Ministry of Energy and the state company “Uzbekneftegaz.”

Over the past four years, gas production declined by 21.7% due to insufficient strategic planning and a focus solely on current operational tasks, which hindered the achievement of projected targets.

In mid-December, Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamahmudov stated that the decline in production will be halted in 2026 thanks to the development of new fields in Karakalpakstan.

Clarification:

The strategy does not specify that the figure of 186.8 billion cubic meters of gas refers to the cumulative total for 2026–2030. If it is considered as such, the trend in gas production in the coming years shows a decline. In 2026, production is projected at 37.9 billion cubic meters, in 2027 — 35.6 billion cubic meters (a decrease of 6%), and in 2028 — 33.4 billion cubic meters (a decrease of 6.1%). Only in 2029 is a sharp increase expected, with production rising by 23.3% compared to the previous year, reaching 41.2 billion cubic meters. However, in 2030, output is forecast to fall again by more than 6%, down to 38.7 billion cubic meters.