Uzbekistan’s Declining Natural Gas Extraction and Rising Exports in 2024
The Central Asian country of Uzbekistan has been facing a significant decline in gas extraction in recent years, leading to a situation where domestic demand is no longer being met. Data from the State Statistics Agency shows that in 2024, gas extraction dropped by 2.1 billion cubic meters, a 4.5% decrease compared to the previous year. Despite this decrease, Uzbekistan’s natural gas exports actually increased by 18.4% in 2024.
The volume of gas extracted in Uzbekistan fell to 44.6 billion cubic meters in 2024, down from 46.7 billion cubic meters in 2023. This decline is quite significant and could have met the annual gas requirements of several regions and organizations within the country.
In 2023, various regions in Uzbekistan had differing gas consumption needs, with some requiring significantly less than the 2.1 billion cubic meter decrease seen in gas extraction. For example, the most populous region, Samarkand, needed only 1.6 billion cubic meters of gas in 2023.
Looking at historical data, the gas extraction figures in Uzbekistan have fluctuated over the years. The numbers from 2010 to 2022 show a general trend of decline in gas extraction, with 2024 marking the lowest level in the past 15 years.
Despite ambitious goals set by the government in various strategies, such as the “Uzbekistan – 2030” strategy aiming to increase gas extraction to 62 billion cubic meters by 2030, Uzbekistan has been unable to meet these targets. Gas extraction has continued to decline, with Uzbekneftegaz JSC, the country’s largest gas producer, significantly reducing its projections for 2025.
In the midst of declining gas extraction, Uzbekistan has seen an increase in gas exports, reaching $627.6 million in 2024 compared to $529 million in 2023. However, the country has also seen a record high in gas imports, indicating a growing reliance on external sources to meet demand.
The outlook for Uzbekistan’s gas sector remains uncertain, with projections showing a continued decline in gas extraction. The country will need to reassess its strategies and priorities to ensure energy security and sustainability in the face of these challenges.
