Uzbekistan increases AI-92 production and imports after phasing out AI-80 gasoline

Speaking at a Legislative Chamber session on December 11, Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov outlined steps planned to compensate for fuel supply constraints during the winter period, when limits have been placed on gas filling stations and demand continues to rise.

According to the minister, additional measures have been taken to ensure stable supplies of motor gasoline, diesel fuel, and fuel oil.

Total demand for diesel is expected to reach 776,000 tons. Planned deliveries to meet this need (740,000 tons in total, below the required volume) include:

• 317,000 tons – Uzbekneftegaz
• 196,000 tons – Sanoat Energetika Guruhi (Saneg)
• 227,000 tons – imports

Mirzamakhmudov noted that demand for aviation kerosene is growing daily due to tourism and rising air traffic. “To meet the demand of 223,000 tons, we plan to produce 168,000 tons domestically and import 74,000 tons,” he said.

The minister recalled that AI-80 gasoline production was halted on September 1 and sales ended on December 1. To compensate, Uzbekistan has expanded production of higher-octane fuel.

“We increased monthly output of AI-92 and higher grades from 80,000 tons to 100,000 tons. We not only boosted production but also created reserves,” Mirzamakhmudov said.

In addition to the state’s strategic fuel reserves, Uzbekneftegaz currently holds 85,000 tons of gasoline to meet winter demand.

In 2024, the plan was to supply 2.28 million tons of all types of gasoline to consumers. AI-80 production had been expected to fall to 1.09 million tons, while centralized imports of this grade were projected to increase to 200,000 tons (excluding private-sector imports). For 2025, the production plan envisioned 1.03 million tons of gasoline: 487,000 tons of AI-80 and 543,000 tons of AI-92+.

According to the State Customs Committee, imports of petroleum products reached $1.42 billion in the first 11 months of this year (an increase of 6 percent compared with January–November 2024). Diesel accounted for $500 million (+70 percent), and gasoline for $441.7 million (+14.3 percent).

The physical volume of diesel imports rose nearly 1.9-fold – from 365,200 tons to 679,500 tons. Gasoline imports were up 12.6 percent – from 662.4 million liters to 746.1 million liters.

Uzbekistan also imported 2.6 times more kerosene – increasing from 28,000 to 74,100 tons – with import value rising from $21.4 million to $65.8 million (3.1 times higher).