President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on September 7 reviewed a presentation on reforming the system of supplying liquefied gas to the population, the presidential press service reported. The meeting focused on addressing chronic delays and inefficiencies in the current system.
According to official data, about 3.8 million residents and nearly 2,000 social facilities in Uzbekistan rely on liquefied gas. This year, 604,800 tons of liquefied gas are planned for delivery to households and social institutions. However, 22% of consumers reportedly wait more than 46 days for their gas supply.
This forces many families to purchase additional gas at commercial auto-filling stations, paying several times the official subsidized price. The gap between production, import, and delivery costs has widened annually, increasing the burden on the state budget for subsidies. The current system, while providing gas at preferential rates, has proven unsustainable.
President Mirziyoyev stressed that the interests of the population must remain paramount. He called for timely gas delivery, uninterrupted supply, and targeted support for socially vulnerable families. To address these issues, officials have drafted a phased reform plan.
A key proposal is the creation of LPG-Trade LLC, established under the auspices of Hududgazta'minot, to purchase liquefied gas via exchange trading and distribute it to consumers under regulated procedures. This aims to introduce economically justified pricing mechanisms, replacing ad-hoc subsidies with market-based approaches.
Under the plan, socially vulnerable groups would receive compensation per kilogram of purchased gas, making support more targeted. Budget funds would be directed to specific consumers rather than blanket subsidies, enhancing fairness and efficiency. For social institutions, gas would be supplied at exchange prices, with the difference from regulated household prices covered by the national budget.
The reform also envisions expanding private sector participation. A pilot project in Andijan region will test the involvement of private operators in gas delivery. Operators must hold licenses, permits, and employ qualified technical staff, with services provided by at least two operators to ensure reliability.
Consumer-facing improvements include a mobile app and online services. New filling stations will be built in line with urban planning and fire safety standards. The experience from the pilot will be gradually extended to other regions.
Authorities have been tasked with enforcing strict delivery schedules, digitizing accounting, ensuring transparency in distribution, and preventing artificial shortages or unjustified price hikes. Timely payment of compensations, adherence to safety requirements, and effective oversight of private operators were also emphasized.
The presentation also covered progress on additional instructions from September 2 regarding the external infrastructure of the integrated nuclear power plant under construction in Jizzakh region and the adjacent town. The reforms are expected to create a transparent, stable gas supply system, reduce delivery times, and improve service quality for the population.
Source: www.gazeta.uz