Illegal use of natural gas worth 1.442 trillion soums (around $118 million) was uncovered in Uzbekistan's gas supply system in 2025 and the first half of 2026, First Deputy Minister of Energy Umid Mamadaminov reported.
According to him, 10,484 cases of illegal use involving 546 million cubic meters of gas were registered.
In addition, during this period, gas supply enterprises underwent 31,134 unscheduled checks and monitoring measures, including 17,824 in 2025 and 13,310 in the first half of 2026.
As a result, compliance units identified and prevented 441 corruption-related offenses by employees of gas supply organizations in a timely manner. Of these, 174 cases were related to natural gas and 268 to liquefied gas.
Based on the violations uncovered and instances of non-compliance with internal regulations, 824 internal investigations were carried out. Materials from 61 checks were forwarded to law enforcement agencies for legal review. Disciplinary measures were applied to 253 employees: 127 had their employment contracts terminated, 212 received official reprimands, and 41 were fined through deductions from their wages.
In addition, in 47 cases, instances of theft of inventory items and fuel and lubricants worth 7.07 billion soums were uncovered. These materials were also forwarded to law enforcement agencies.
In the liquefied gas supply sector, unscheduled inspections revealed 1,076 violations. In 406 cases, illegal liquefied gas sales points were shut down. According to the ministry, this prevented the illegal sale of 15,761 household gas cylinders worth 7.99 billion soums and more than 180 tons of liquefied gas worth 1.2 billion soums.
Umid Mamadaminov also reported that from January 2025 to the present, 67 employees of subordinate branches of the company Hududgaztaminot had been caught red-handed by law enforcement while committing corruption-related offenses, in a total of 59 cases.
Among the main corruption risks, the first deputy minister named bribes for gas supply connections, attempts to solicit money in exchange for not officially recording violations or reducing the amount of damages, as well as extortion in exchange for reducing or writing off customer debts. According to him, such cases stem from incomplete digitalization of processes, the persistence of "loopholes" for corruption, and insufficient consumer awareness of gasification procedures.
To reduce these risks, the HGT Online software is being introduced into the system, which will bring the processing of technical specifications under online oversight. In Tashkent, a pilot program has been launched for issuing technical specifications using artificial intelligence, integrated with the databases of public service centers. Accepting applications, determining connection points, and issuing documents are meant to take place without human involvement.
The process of opening a personal account has also been digitalized: citizens can submit applications online through their personal account on the Hududgaztaminot website. The E-ma'muriy software has been introduced for conducting inspections, and 2,478 neighborhood (mahalla) gas technicians and 451 specialists working with wholesale consumers have been equipped with tablets. The company also plans to purchase body cameras for employees who interact directly with consumers.
According to the first deputy minister, 104,215 households in Uzbekistan still have old gas meters that do not transmit data online. Of these, 102,431 are in apartments in multi-unit buildings, and 1,784 are in private homes. Photo and video reporting has been introduced to monitor the replacement of these meters.
In the liquefied gas sector, a Face ID system has been implemented in all provinces since March. 984 supplier technicians have received tablets, and household gas cylinders are now issued using facial recognition.
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