A meeting chaired by the Chairman of the Board of Uzbekneftegaz JSC, Abdugani Sanginov, discussed the volume of natural gas production, problems at fields, and measures to increase production at the Gazli Oil and Gas Production Directorate.
The meeting reviewed cases of 'natural decline' in gas production at the fields. The main reasons cited were a drop in reservoir and wellhead pressure. The company's management sharply criticized more than 10 emergency shutdowns recorded since the beginning of the year and instructed responsible parties to take measures to prevent such incidents.
It was noted that a special program will be developed to expand geological and technical measures, restore production volumes, and increase production efficiency. Responsible parties were tasked with eliminating existing shortcomings in a short time and preventing emergency shutdowns.
The meeting discussed a separate decision adopted in January — not to transfer 21 fields to an external operator, but to carry out work using Uzbekneftegaz's own forces and capabilities. Within this approach, drilling was planned at 9 facilities; work has been completed at 5 of them, and the facilities have been put into operation.
The Chairman of the Board emphasized the need to abandon the 'complacent mood' in the industry and organize activities based on new technological solutions, modern approaches, and initiative.
Production plans for 2026 were also reviewed. According to the plan, drilling 9 new wells and repairing 27 wells is expected to provide an additional 1.4 million cubic meters of natural gas per day.
According to the company, in January-May of this year, 5 new wells were put into operation, and repairs were carried out at another 15 wells. This made it possible to produce an additional 908,000 cubic meters of gas per day.
In addition, the status of 461 wells under the directorate was analyzed. It turned out that 45% of them need repair or restoration. Responsible parties were instructed to carry out repairs at another 10 wells by the end of the year and increase daily production by another 250,000 cubic meters.
Following the discussions, the head of the Doyakhotin field (commissioned in 2004) was dismissed for failing to take sufficient measures against the natural decline in gas production. The director of the directorate and the chief geologist were issued reprimands.
The meeting also raised issues of ensuring stable operation of compressor stations, developing power supply infrastructure, and accelerating the construction of power transmission lines for compressor stations at wellheads.
According to 2021 data, the Gazli Oil and Gas Production Directorate is one of the main production and processing structures of Uzbekneftegaz, providing about 10% of the company's natural gas treatment capacities (annual design capacity — 7.69 billion cubic meters).
The directorate's production complex is also designed for compressing 5.1 billion cubic meters of gas per year and desulfurizing 4.5 billion cubic meters of raw materials. In addition, about 11.8% of Uzbekneftegaz's total liquefied gas production capacities (80,000 tons per year) fall to the Gazli directorate.
In 2024, the directorate's share in the company's gas production volume increased to 14.3%. The first place in this indicator was taken by the Mubarek Oil and Gas Production Directorate (43.4%), second by the Shurtan Oil and Gas Production Directorate (27.8%), and third by the Ustyurt Oil and Gas Production Directorate (14.4%).
Additionally, the management of Uzbekneftegaz sharply criticized the Canadian company Condor Energies, which operates at the fields, for 'failing to fulfill its obligations.' The implementation of these works was ordered to be placed under strict control.
Canada's Condor Energies (registered in 2013, formerly Condor Petroleum) announced on January 31, 2024, that it had signed a new contract with the government of Uzbekistan in the field of gas production for gas wells in the Karakul district of Bukhara region.
This foreign company is listed as a partner of Uzbekneftegaz in a risk-service contract worth $480 million.
The company was supposed to increase production at eight gas condensate fields in the region. The report noted that these fields experience an annual decline in production and a low productivity coefficient, but exact decline figures were not provided.
The company stated that it would receive a certain percentage of net profit for the services provided. However, neither the percentage amount nor what exactly is meant by net profit was disclosed.
In October 2020, Condor Energies reported that it planned to invest more than $1 billion in the exploitation of gas fields in the Bukhara region in 2021–2024.
According to Uzbekneftegaz, the risk-service contract project for increasing production and conducting geological exploration at fields in the Gazli region envisaged attracting $582 million in direct foreign investment and loans in 2023–2043. This was expected to provide additional production of 11.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas.
In January-March 2026, Uzbekistan produced 9.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas, which is 15% less than the figure for the same period in 2025 (11.3 billion). This is according to data from the State Statistics Committee studied by Gazeta.
In March, production volume amounted to 2.7 billion cubic meters. Compared to March 2025, the figure decreased by 1.2 billion cubic meters, or 30.8%. Energy Minister Jorabek Mirzamakhmudov told Gazeta in an interview that the decline was expected, and the main task now is to stabilize production and maintain volumes.
Uzbekneftegaz produced 25.2 billion cubic meters of gas last year, which is lower than forecast. Plans for 2026–2027 include ensuring stable production volumes, as well as increasing gas reserves and processing.
Source: www.gazeta.uz