Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan uncovered 374 cases of illegal storage and sale of liquefied gas and 16 violations involving coal products in October.
Inspections resulted in the seizure of 9,139 gas cylinders, 92.9 tonnes of liquefied gas and 333.54 tonnes of coal from illegal circulation, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said.
Interior Minister Aziz Tashpulatov chaired a meeting focused on ensuring an uninterrupted supply of coal, natural gas and liquefied gas to households and social facilities, as well as preventing corruption and fuel theft during distribution.
According to the ministry, the seized coal was subsequently allocated for household needs. Measures were taken to return the gas cylinders and liquefied gas to consumers. The ministry noted that employees of gas supply companies were involved in some of the identified theft cases.
The meeting set the task of ensuring that gas cylinders are delivered according to schedule, establishing transparent accounting procedures for fuel transportation and distribution, and preventing unjustified charges to consumers.
Operational and preventive measures are also expected to be strengthened to identify discrepancies between actual coal and gas supply volumes and reported figures, cases of fuel underdelivery and abuse of official authority.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs, together with Hududgazta’minot and the Ministry of Transport, will step up oversight of transport logistics, compliance with delivery routes and road safety. Additional security measures are planned at gas filling stations, warehouses and distribution centres.
Problems with liquefied gas supplies to households were discussed at a meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in early September. At the time, officials said that around 3.8 million consumers and nearly 2,000 social facilities relied on this type of fuel. A total of 604,800 tonnes of liquefied gas was scheduled to be supplied to them in 2026.
Inspections found that 22% of consumers received gas cylinders at intervals exceeding 46 days. Due to delivery delays, some households have been forced to buy fuel at market prices from vehicle gas filling stations.
A pilot project involving private operators was previously announced to improve the delivery system.
In addition, Hududgazta’minot is establishing a subsidiary, LPG-Trade, which will purchase liquefied gas through the exchange and organise its delivery to households.
