Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan – Minister of Energy Jorabek Mirzamahmudov commented on the disruptions in energy supply. According to him, the current weather conditions require planned restrictions in order to prevent more serious losses.
“Our task is to supply people with natural gas. At the same time, we should produce electricity at thermal power stations and ensure its supply to the population, but it also requires using gas resources.
We know that there are complaints. People are experiencing power outages. We admit the shortcomings. But if we don’t introduce some restrictions on the use of electricity and gas in these weather conditions, there may be more serious damage to the power network. That’s why we are obliged to take such urgent measures,” the minister said.
Jorabek Mirzamahmudov also commented on the collective appeal of the workers of the cement factory “Shorsuv Cement” in Fergana. In their address, the employees said that they became unemployed and were left without any income after the plant was disconnected from the gas supply network.
“Regarding the situation in Fergana, we note once again that all facilities that can work on other alternative fuels will be disconnected from the network in such weather conditions. Some reports exaggerated the number of workers of the plant, saying 10 thousand people became unemployed. However, the cement production enterprise had a little over one hundred workers.
Everyone knows that there is a relevant decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, brick factories, cement plants should all work on coal, that is, alternative fuel in adverse weather conditions. Now we will study separately who illegally connected this plant [in Fergana] to the gas network and who gave them permission. But the managers of the enterprise were warned in time according to the terms of the contract. They should have carried out appropriate explanation works with the employees,” said Mirzamahmudov.
Earlier in the statement issued by “Hududgaz Fergana” it was reported that “Shorsuv Cement” was cut off from gas along with other cement factories in order to supply gas to the population in the first place, but the company illegally reconnected to the network.
