Uzbekistan boosts fuel and gas production despite oil output decline

According to data from the National Statistics Committee, Uzbekistan saw an increase in the production of gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas, and electricity in March.

In the first quarter, crude oil production totaled 160,800 tons, marking a 10.22% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. As a result, automotive gasoline production plummeted by 15.61% to around 304,000 tons (compared to 2023, the decline exceeds 21%).

Natural gas production dropped by 2.76% to 11.32 billion cubic meters (an 8.1% decline compared to 2023). However, for the first time in 3.5 years, monthly gas production recorded an increase. Meanwhile, the production of gas condensate fell by more than 9.4%, amounting to 296,600 tons.

Diesel fuel production, which had plunged by nearly 40% in January–February, partially rebounded in March, reaching 182,000 tons (down 14%). This recovery is likely linked to the completion of scheduled maintenance at the Uzbekistan GTL plant, which lasted for 3.5 months.

Positive momentum was also observed in coal mining. In the first three months of the year, more than 1.21 million tons of coal were produced, reflecting a 25.2% increase.

Meanwhile, electricity generation slightly decreased by 0.33% — from 21.66 billion to 21.58 billion kWh. At large enterprises, electricity output fell by 17.7% to 16.54 billion kWh, a drop partially offset by a more than 3.5-fold increase among small businesses (5 billion kWh), largely representing "green" energy. Additionally, heat energy production dropped by more than 9%, down to 7.83 million Gcal.