Uzbekistan Aims to End Fuel Imports Through SOCAR Partnership

Chairman of Uzbekneftegaz, Bahodirjon Sidikov, has announced that Uzbekistan plans to reduce and eventually stop importing oil products through a joint project with the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR).

The project, launched in the Ustyurt region of Karakalpakstan, covers exploration and extraction of hydrocarbons, beginning with seismic surveys and fieldwork. Sidikov emphasized that even a minimal scenario could significantly cut Uzbekistan’s reliance on imported fuel, The Caspian Post reports via local media.

Azerbaijan’s Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov confirmed that major seismic exploration will begin soon, marking the start of practical operations under a production-sharing agreement signed on July 24, 2025.

The Ustyurt Operating Company, recently opened in Tashkent, will manage exploration and production across six investment blocks, with SOCAR acting as the operator for the initial geological survey phase. The project anticipates discovering up to 100 million tons of oil and 35 billion cubic meters of gas, aiming for an annual production of 5 million tons of oil, with total investments reaching $2 billion.

Geological exploration is set to begin in the first quarter of 2026, aligning with directives from the presidents of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.