Uzbekistan plans to increase gas imports due to the depletion of existing fields, said the Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov in the Lolazor podcast.
According to the Uzbekistan-2030 strategy, gas production is scheduled to be increased to 62 BCM by 2030. However, in recent years, the production of "blue fuel" has been steadily declining.
In 2023, gas production fell to 46.7 BCM, a decrease of 9.6%, or 4.97 BCM, compared to 2022. In January-August 2024, production amounted to 29.9 BCM, which is 4.6%, or 1.46 BCM, less than in the same period in 2023, and 25% less than in the same period in 2019 (40.33 BCM).
The head of the Ministry of Energy was asked whether it is correct to make forecasts about increasing production if it continues to fall, when to expect the end of the decline in production, and whether there are maximum limits on gas imports.
The minister underscored an increase in gas supplies to consumers - that is, against the backdrop of economic and population growth, consumption is growing. According to him, plans to bring natural gas imports to approximately 10-11 BCM per year by 2030 are provided.
“It takes from 3 to 5 years to discover a new field and develop it. At one time, geological exploration work was not carried out. Depletion, development of our fields has reached 85%. If you pay attention, almost all fields have booster compressor stations (BCS). Even in the Ustyurt region, where the most gas is produced, booster compressor stations are being built to increase efficiency,” he said.
The Minister of Energy underscored the complexity of geological exploration in the Ustyurt region.
"When implementing the Surgil project, the American company DeGolyer and MacNaughton were hired, and who conducted a full audit of reserves, a field development project. After all this is approved, project financing is envisaged from creditors and banks. They contribute funds after conclusions by independent consultants, which covers the analysis of all processes, including marketing and raw materials, offtake contracts (an agreement for the sale and purchase of raw materials that have not yet been extracted) ... In the end, it turned out that the figures indicated by DeGolyer were not confirmed," he said.
Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov said that the "gas cap", the upper gas part of the oil and gas deposits, in the Surgil field is located in several layers, while in other fields in Uzbekistan it is in one layer.
"Work in the Ustyurt region continues, Halliburton, Schlumberger, specialists from China and others have been involved. Drilling is going deeper. Depending on the results of geological and geophysical work in Ustyurt, if the reserves turn out good, if we maintain the production level, then [the volume of gas imports] will decrease by 10-11 BCM. Otherwise, it will be 10-11 BCM, based on current production, consumption and balance,” he explained.
