Controversy: Uzbekistan has increased gas production, but reduced oil production

Natural gas production in Uzbekistan in January-June 2021 increased by 4.7%, compared to the same period in 2020 – up to 26,308 billion cubic meters.

Meanwhile, oil production decreased by 2.2% – to 350 thousand tons. The data were provided by the State Statistics Committee.

For comparison, in 2020, oil production in Uzbekistan increased by 4.9% – to 733.6 thousand tons, gas – decreased by 17.8% – to 49.739 billion cubic meters.

Production of gas condensate in the republic in the first half of the year increased by 0.1% – up to 672.3 thousand tons.

Gasoline production in the country in January-June amounted to 546.5 thousand tons (+4.6%), diesel fuel – 407 thousand tons (-22.7%).

The capacities of Uzbekneftegaz JSC make it possible to extract about 70 billion cubic meters of gas and 8 million tons of liquid hydrocarbons annually. However, over the past 15 years, production has dropped significantly.

This was facilitated by depletion of reserves and technological losses.