Uzbekistan increases gas imports fivefold

Uzbekistan imported natural gas worth $983.7 million between January and July 2024, according to the Statistics Agency.

In July alone, the country imported gas valued at $174.2 million, a staggering 174 times more than in July 2023, when only $1 million worth of gas was purchased from abroad.

During the first seven months of this year, Uzbekistan's natural gas imports reached $983.7 million, compared to $201 million during the same period in 2023. This represents nearly a fivefold increase in gas import costs.

According to the statistics, the following amounts were spent on gas imports by Uzbekistan this year:

• January: $35.6 million
• February: $131.1 million
• March: $193.6 million
• April: $102.6 million
• May: $108.4 million
• June: $166.3 million

Since October 7, 2023, Uzbekistan has been purchasing gas from Russia through Kazakhstan. However, officials have not yet disclosed the import price of this gas. In February 2024, it was reported that the government of Uzbekistan plans to modernize the country's main gas system to increase imports from the Russian Federation by 3.5 times, from 9 million to 32 million cubic meters.

Despite the significant increase in gas imports, Uzbekistan has not halted its gas exports. Last month, gas exports totaled $91.7 million, a 1.3-fold increase compared to July 2023, when $63.9 million worth of gas was exported.

From January to July 2024, the republic exported gas valued at $323.1 million, slightly down from $341.9 million during the same period in 2023.