Berdimuhamedov dismissed the officials responsible for supplying gas to Uzbekistan

The President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, made several appointments in the fuel and energy complex.  Among those released from their positions are those responsible for supplying gas to Uzbekistan.  This was reported by the government newspaper "Neutral Turkmenistan".

These decisions were made by the head of state on 10 February of this year at an extended meeting of the government dedicated to the results of the socioeconomic development of Turkmenistan in 2022.

According to the results of the last meeting, Serdar Berdimuhamedov made several personnel decisions:

• Ashirguli Begliyev was released from the position of adviser to the President on oil and gas issues and appointed as the deputy of the Prime Minister on oil and gas industry issues;
• Shohim Abdrahmonov was released from the position of the Prime Minister's deputy for oil and gas complex issues;
• Charimurod Purchekov was released from the position of the Prime Minister's deputy for electric energy, construction, and industrial issues.  He was replaced by Boymurad Annamammedov.

In January of this year, serious changes were expected in the fuel and energy complex of Turkmenistan due to the problems at the Galkinish field, which led to interruptions in the supply of gas to Uzbekistan.

"Turkmen news," wrote about the arrest of 6 people in Turkmengaz on 9 February of this year. Among them is Sh. Ajdarov, the head of the Material-Technical Resources and Equipment Department, and Sh.Chopanov, the head of the "Turkmengazakdiriz" association.

According to Navshr, the head of "The Turkman gas" company B., Amanov was severely reprimanded by President Berdymukhamedov, but they avoided a more serious punishment.

"The investigation of the General Prosecutor's Office showed that, according to preliminary estimates, the supply of gas from the Galkinish field to Uzbekistan was forcibly stopped for only 6 days, and the amount of damage was 59.7 million US dollars.

"Uzbekistan has not made any official claims regarding interruptions in gas supplies to Turkmenistan and has not demanded any compensation," Neftegaz.ru wrote.

In addition, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, friendly assistance was exchanged between the countries, a batch of liquefied gas was sent by Turkmenistan, and special medical equipment was sent by Uzbekistan.  However, Turkmenistan may be fined for not supplying gas to China.

In addition, the supply of Russian gas to Uzbekistan may begin soon, and it is not clear how this is related to Turkmenistan's plans to supply gas to Uzbekistan.

"In December 2022, the first direct contract for the supply of 1.5 billion m3 of gas from Turkmenistan for 3 months was signed (previously Gazprom bought Turkmen gas for Uzbekistan.)  However, the situation shows that Turkmenistan itself avoids concluding a long-term contract with Uzbekistan and waits for the progress of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India main gas pipeline line 4 Central Asia - China.

It should be recalled that on 12 December 2022, the head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Sardar Umurzakov, went to Ashgabat, met with the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and persuaded him to supply an additional 20 million cubic meters of gas to Uzbekistan.  He did not limit himself to persuasion, he wrote down the agreement and signed it.