Uzbekneftegaz and SOCAR launch joint exploration and production project on Ustyurt Plateau

According to Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Energy, state energy company SOCAR and Uzbekistan’s Uzbekneftegaz have commenced work on the project in the Ustyurt region of Karakalpakstan. The announcement was made during a ceremony in Tashkent dedicated to the launch of several new energy initiatives with the participation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov, who attended the event, noted that Uzbekistan is simultaneously advancing joint projects with Turkey, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, China, and Azerbaijan across different regions of the country. His remarks were delivered during a video-linked presentation of the ongoing initiatives.

Shahbazov emphasized that political will at the highest level has elevated Azerbaijan–Uzbekistan relations to a strategic alliance, with personal trust and friendship between the leaders playing a key role. He said the new Ustyurt project further reinforces cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector.

“This project once again confirms the strategic importance of our partnership in the energy sphere, strengthens the exchange of experience and technologies in the hydrocarbon industry of both countries, and creates conditions for regional energy integration and joint contribution to energy security,” Shahbazov stated.

The minister also highlighted another major initiative – the Trans-Caspian Energy Corridor. The project aims to connect, for the first time, the power systems of Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. With Azerbaijan’s transit role, the corridor is expected to expand over time, enabling the transmission of renewable energy along the Middle Corridor between Asia and Europe.

Uzbekneftegaz and SOCAR previously signed a Production Sharing and Exploration Agreement on 24 July 2025 for geological exploration activities within designated investment blocks in Uzbekistan. The newly launched Ustyurt initiative is one of the first major projects arising from that agreement.