Gas production in Uzbekistan in the 11 months of 2023 topped 42.75 billion cubic meters (BCM), a 9.6%, or 4.56 BCM decrease, compared to the same period last year, the Statistics Agency follows said in a report.
The average monthly gas production stood at 3.89 BCM, while in January-November 2022 an average of 4.3 BCM of gas was produced per month.
In November, production fell to 3.79 BCM - almost the same volume as in the previous month, but 10.2%, or 433.8 million cubic meters lower than in November 2022 (4.3 BCM).
The authorities cover the shortage of domestic production by importing gas from Turkmenistan and Russia, which made Uzbekistan a net importer of gas.
Electricity production over 11 months increased by 4.5%, or 2.98 billion kWh, compared to the same period last year - from 66.67 billion to 69.66 billion kWh. In November, 6.63 billion kWh were generated, which is 1.4% less than the figure for this month last year.
About 80-85% of the electricity produced comes from thermal power plants that run on gas.
Coal production in January-August exceeded last year's figures after a sharp drop in the first year-half. Volumes reached 3.77 million tons (+10.4%), including in August - a record 673.7 thousand tons in recent years, which is 40.2% more than August 2022.
Coal production over 11 months increased to 5.73 million tons (+19.1%), but after a rapid increase in production in previous quarters, a decline began after September (685 thousand tons). In October, 657 thousand tons of coal were produced, in November - 614 thousand tons. But, nevertheless, this is much more than the monthly figures of last year (484 and 432 thousand tons).
Oil production fell from 721.3 to 709.3 thousand tons (-1.7% or 12 thousand tons). Production decreased for the fourth month in a row - from 64.7 thousand tons in July to 60.9 thousand tons in November, which is the minimum figure for the last two years. For comparison: in November 2022, oil production was 65 thousand tons.
During this period, 1.21 million tons of motor gasoline were produced, which is 8.7% more, or 97.4 thousand tons, compared to the corresponding period in 2022. After a sharp drop in production in May due to repairs at the Bukhara oil refinery, more than 2 times more fuel was produced in June - 100.1 thousand tons, in July - 133.2 thousand tons, in August - 108 thousand tons, in September - 113.8 thousand tons, in October - 100.3 thousand tons.
In November, 109.3 thousand tons of gasoline were produced, which is slightly less than in November last year.
Thermal energy production over eight months fell by 9.1% - from 23.3 to 21.2 million Gcal, gas condensate - from 1.17 to 1.09 million tons (-7%).
Despite the problems in the energy sector, according to the Statistics Agency, it was possible to achieve an increase in industrial production by 6%.