Eurasianet notes that Uzbekistan is grappling with a natural gas production crunch, putting pressure on state coffers.
In February, Tashkent sharply reduced gas supplies to China, according to a March 28 report published by the UzDaily.uz website.
According to data published by China’s General Customs Administration, the drop in export volume resulted in a sharp downturn in earnings, 38.77 million US dollars in January to 18.6 million US dollars in February.
The February 2024 figure was still better than earnings during the same month the previous year, during which no gas export earnings were recorded.
According to Eurasianet, the Chinese export totals differed significantly from the amounts published by Uzbekistan’s States Statistical Agency, which showed gas export earnings of U$21 million in January and US$5.7 million in February.
Uzbek officials attributed the discrepancy in earnings data to Beijing’s tendency to include revenue from the transit of Turkmen gas via Uzbekistan in the totals, Gazeta.uz reported. But that explanation, the outlet added, still doesn’t square the numbers.
Uzbekistan has traditionally relied on gas exports to generate a significant chunk of revenue for the state. But for the first time in its post-Soviet history, the country became a net importer of gas in 2023. Last fall, Uzbek officials signed a two-year deal to import up to 9 million cubic meters of Russian gas per day. The import-export deficit totaled about US$165 million in 2023.
Russia started supplying natural gas to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan in early October last year.
Kommersant reported on March 7 this year that Uzbekistan last year imported natural gas from Russia a the rate of US$160.00 per 1000 cubic meters. This price is lower than the average sales prices of Russian gas supplied to China and Turkiye.
TASS reported las month that an Uzbek government investment program for the first quarter of 2024 “outlined intentions to boost gas imports from Russia from the existing 9 million cubic meters to 32 million cubic meters per day.”
Kun.uz noted that in December 2023 Russia’s Gazprom doubled exports to Uzbekistan at the request of the Uzbek authorities to meet soaring winter demand.
Congratulations on Vicotry Day
The world's most popular sport now has its own day for fans to celebrate — May 25
A conference expected to be held in Dushanbe next week to discuss once again the media law on media
Iran can serve as gateway for Central Asian countries to internal markets, says Iranian ambassador to Tajikistan
Another incident with use of firearms occurs on Tajik-Kyrgyz border
All five Central Asian leaders to attend Victory Day events in Moscow
Tajikistan ranked 1550th out of 180 countries and territories in terms of press freedom
By president’s order Tajik war veterans will receive 40,000 somonis each on the occasion of Victory Day
Tajikistan signs the Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action
Italy to host the 58th ADB Annual Meeting in 2025
All news
Авторизуйтесь, пожалуйста