Winter in Uzbekistan: patience tested by endless gas station queues

As winter settles in Uzbekistan, it’s not the chill in the air or the sight of snow that signals the season’s arrival but rather the lengthy queues snaking through the country’s gas stations. Each year brings the same scenario: drivers spend countless hours waiting for methane gas, a resource that becomes increasingly scarce during the colder months.

Drivers report spending as many as five or six hours waiting in line just to fill their vehicles. One driver, frustrated with the unchanging situation, shared his ordeal:

“I arrived at eight in the morning, and it’s already past twelve. We’ve been sitting here for four hours, and we’re still waiting. They don’t even inform us if gas will be available or not.”

Others express exhaustion and despair at the recurring issue. Another driver lamented:

“How long will this last? People are worn out. This happens every year. You have to make a living and feed your children, but it’s the same situation every winter.”

Some drivers go to even greater lengths, spending entire nights in their vehicles to secure their place in line.

“I’ve been here since four in the morning, wearing layers of thick clothing to fight the cold. For the past three days, I’ve spent the night in the car because there’s no other way,” said one driver.

The situation worsened on December 9, when the Ministry of Energy announced temporary restrictions on the operation of car gas filling stations. This led to an escalation in queues, not just for gas but also for gasoline, with shortages reported nationwide.