Government plans to address declining gas extraction with new drilling and recovery strategies

The president was presented with data regarding natural gas production dynamics within the Uzbekneftegaz system, including an analysis of the factors contributing to the current decline and the specific measures being taken to compensate for these losses. Statistics show that gas production in January fell to 3.7 billion cubic meters, representing a 7.5% decrease compared to the 4 billion cubic meters recorded during the same period in both 2024 and 2025.

To address this shortfall, additional volumes were secured during the first quarter of this year through the commissioning of new wells and the repair of existing ones. The government plans to expand these technical interventions throughout the remainder of the year. Central to this strategy is the integration of modern technologies to enhance well productivity and the identification of promising areas for new 2D and 3D seismic surveys.

To ensure that drilling and field operations meet global benchmarks, the authorities have outlined plans to introduce a comprehensive supervising system. This will include advanced geological and hydrodynamic modeling to allow for more precise planning and execution of extraction programs. Furthermore, the meeting addressed the need to increase the gas recovery factor at existing fields and develop new approaches for tapping into difficult-to-extract reserves.

President Mirziyoyev emphasized that the stability of the industry depends on the efficient use of existing capacities and a systematic approach to exploration. He highlighted the importance of expanding partnerships with foreign companies, specifically those focused on achieving tangible results. For the 2026-2027 period, the government is already working with international firms to assess the economic efficiency of long-term production programs.

Concluding the session, the president instructed officials to maintain strict control over the implementation of these strategic plans. He stressed that every direction of the reform must yield specific, measurable results to ensure the nation's energy demands are met consistently.