Uzbekistan’s gas, oil, and fuel production declined in 2024

According to a report by the Statistics Agency, key energy sector figures for 2024 are as follows:

Natural gas

From January to December, natural gas production totaled approximately 44.6 billion cubic meters, which is 4.5% lower than in 2023 (46.7 billion cubic meters). Compared to 2019 (59.4 billion cubic meters), the decline amounted to 14.9 billion cubic meters, roughly equivalent to 75% of the annual gas consumption of the population in 2023.

In January 2024, gas production fell by 3% compared to January 2023, reaching 3.87 billion cubic meters.

The decline in gas production has been ongoing for several years. It is worth noting that 70-80% of Uzbekistan’s electricity is generated by burning natural gas.

Electricity

Over 12 months, electricity generation by large and small enterprises increased by 4.7% (3.6 billion kWh), rising from 77.7 billion to 81.3 billion kWh.

However, large power supply enterprises, which primarily use gas (along with coal and hydroelectric power), saw electricity production drop to 70.8 billion kWh in 2024. This is 8% (6.15 billion kWh) less than in 2023 (76.9 billion kWh).

Losses were compensated by smaller enterprises, including solar and wind power plants, which generated 10.5 billion kWh. Their share in total electricity generation increased to 12.9%.

In January 2024, electricity production was 4.3% lower than in January 2023, falling from 7.6 billion to 7.25 billion kWh. This was mainly due to a 17.9% decline in production at large power plants, which fell to 5.8 billion kWh. The nearly threefold increase in output at small power plants—from 515.3 million to 1.46 billion kWh—could not fully offset the decline.

Oil

Annual oil production amounted to 713,400 tons, marking a 7.4% (56,700-ton) decrease compared to 2023. This volume is roughly equivalent to Uzbekistan's one-month fuel consumption.

In January 2024, oil production fell to 55,100 tons, a decrease of 8.9% (5,400 tons) compared to the same period in 2023.

Gasoline

In 2024, Uzbekistan produced 1.28 million tons of automobile gasoline, which is 3.8% (51,000 tons) less than in 2023 (1.33 million tons).

In January, gasoline production dropped by 20.5%, from 124,600 tons to 99,000 tons. Declines were also recorded in December (-18.1%) and November (-12.4%).

Diesel

Diesel fuel production in 2024 decreased by 6.3%, from 1.01 million tons to 948,900 tons.

A sharp decline was recorded in November (-37.1% compared to November 2023), December (-50.1%), and January (-33.9%). In January, only 33,200 tons of diesel fuel were produced.

At the beginning of December, Spot reported that Uzbekistan GTL, a diesel producer built for $3.42 billion, had been shut down for maintenance. The rating agency S&P Global Ratings expects the plant, currently undergoing technical servicing, to resume operations by the end of the first quarter of 2025.

Coal

Annual coal production reached a record high of 8.17 million tons, 32% more than in 2023.

In December, coal production totaled 837,500 tons—1.8 times higher than in December 2023. In November, 984,500 tons were mined—1.6 times more than a year earlier. In January 2024, coal extraction increased by 14.3%, reaching 408,800 tons.

It is worth noting that Uzbekistan plans to increase natural gas production to 62 billion cubic meters by 2030. However, given the recent downward trend, the Minister of Energy, Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, previously stated that if geological exploration in the Ustyurt region does not yield the expected results, gas imports could reach 10–11 billion cubic meters by that year.