Imported gasoline prices in Uzbekistan are sharply increasing due to the crisis in the Middle East. In January-February, 279 million liters of gasoline were imported for $166 million, covering nearly half of domestic demand. The price rise is linked to oil prices exceeding $100 per barrel and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Expensive fuel raises logistics and goods costs, exacerbating inflation.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a law toughening penalties for unauthorized connections to utility networks. Fines for citizens range from 6.18 to 8.24 million soums, for officials up to 12.36 million soums. Commercial connections face fines up to 10.3 million soums or administrative detention for up to 15 days. The law takes effect in three months.
In Tashkent, over a hundred electric vehicle charging stations were disconnected, exposing the lack of regulations for this new industry. Authorities cite grid overload and missing documentation as reasons. Around 1,300 such devices are installed in the city, but rules for their connection and operation remain undeveloped.
Bukhara announced a tender for a new international airport under a public-private partnership model. The project includes a 48,500-square-meter terminal with a capacity of 1,200 international and 400 domestic passengers per hour. In 2025, the existing airport served 574,000 passengers, mostly on international routes.
Farmers in the Fergana Valley used unusual methods to protect apricot orchards from frosts down to -8°C. Trees were wrapped in plastic, and smoke from hay, dung, or car tires was spread between gardens. Farmer Muhammadjalil Teshaboyev said wrapping a five-hectare orchard required significant funds, even forcing him to sell livestock to save the harvest.
Blogger Sirojiddin Odilov was detained on charges of fraud and bribery. According to the Samarkand Regional Department of Internal Affairs, in August 2024, the blogger received money from a citizen to resolve a financial issue but failed to deliver. A criminal case has been initiated, and he has been placed in custody.
French President Emmanuel Macron, at an international nuclear energy summit in Paris on March 10, named Uzbekistan among countries capable of diversifying uranium supplies to Europe. The French leader emphasized nuclear energy's role in energy sovereignty and decarbonization. Uzbekistan's uranium production reached 7,000 tons in 2025, with estimated reserves of about 139,000 tons.
Iran's new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, declared intentions to continue attacks against the United States and its allies. He vowed to avenge the deaths of Iranians and maintain the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as a pressure tool. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry reported that Khamenei sustained injuries during recent strikes but his life is not in danger.
Source: kun.uz