Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 26
By Nigar Guliyeva – Trend:
Gas production in Uzbekistan in 2018 could increase by 16.8 percent compared to 2017 - up to 66 billion cubic meters, RIA Novosti reported citing a representative of JSC Uzbekneftegaz.
"In 2018, we plan to produce 66 billion cubic meters of natural gas, while in 2017, production amounted to 56.5 billion cubic meters," the source said.
The source said that the growth will be mainly ensured through developing fields with the participation of foreign companies.
Earlier, JSC Uzbekneftegaz chairman Alisher Sultanov said that the country recorded an increase in gas production for the first time in many years. He noted that in 2017 it will grow by 1.5 billion cubic meters compared to 2016 - up to 56.5 billion cubic meters.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev previously said that due to unrealized modernization of the oil and gas industry, gas losses during extraction and transportation remain extremely high at 20-23 percent for several years.
Presently, the capacities of JSC Uzbekneftegaz allow at to ensure the extraction of natural gas at the level of 70 billion cubic meters and liquid hydrocarbons in the volume of 8 million tons per year. In recent years, domestic gas consumption in the republic has grown 1.3 times and is about 50 billion cubic meters per year.