Uzbekistan Announces Major Gas Reserve Discovery

Uzbekistan has made a historic breakthrough in its energy sector with the discovery of a significant natural gas reserve in the Ustyurt region.

According to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, this marks the first time in the country's industrial history that such a large reserve has been found at a depth of 6,500 meters, The Caspian Post reports, citing Uzbek media.

Speaking on 15 September, the president said a significant gas reserve had been found on the Ustyurt Plateau in Karakalpakstan.

“Our country possesses huge underground mineral resources. Previously, exploration in the oil and gas sector was carried out only at depths of 2,500-3,000 meters. This year, for the first time in the history of our industry, drilling in Ustyurt reached a depth of 6,500 meters and a very large gas reserve was discovered,” the president said.

According to Mirziyoyev, the demand for technological minerals such as tellurium, lithium, selenium, graphite, and molybdenum is increasing several times over as the world undergoes the “fourth industrial revolution.”

“Analysis shows that 10-15 percent of the world’s reserves of tungsten, molybdenum, zinc, and titanium are concentrated in our region,” he added.

“To turn these enormous resources into products with high added value, we need above all science, knowledge, and innovation,” the president emphasized.

Earlier, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said he was awaiting news about the discovery of a major oil field in Uzbekistan.