Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The main phase of Uzbekistan’s electricity and gas tariff reform is planned to be completed by 2025, Vice Premier and Minister of Economy and Finance, Jamshid Kuchkarov, stated at the St. Petersburg International Gas Forum on 10 October.

“We are not a major player in the global gas market—neither as an exporter nor as an importer. However, like other countries, we are taking measures to ensure reliable energy supply to our economy and population,” Kuchkarov noted.

He emphasized that Uzbekistan’s GDP growth rate has exceeded 6% in recent years, requiring substantial energy resources. However, the energy consumption per unit of GDP remains higher than in most CIS countries.

“The population is growing, and consequently, the demand for gas is also increasing. At the same time, Uzbekistan’s economy is energy-intensive, particularly in older industrial plants and gas power stations. Therefore, while energy demand is rising, we are also striving to reduce consumption through modernization and increasing energy efficiency,” the minister highlighted.

Kuchkarov further explained that simply calling for energy conservation does not yield the expected results, which is why the tariff reform was launched in 2023. The main phase of the reform is expected to be completed in 2024, contributing to more rational energy use by both households and enterprises.

He also mentioned plans to modernize the gas transportation system (GTS) and expand cooperation with Kazakhstan and Russia’s Gazprom. Uzbekistan intends to increase imports of Russian gas from 9 million to 32 million cubic meters per day, requiring approximately $500 million in investment to modernize the GTS.

It’s worth noting that from 1 October 2023, tariffs for electricity and gas were increased for large industrial enterprises and organizations, with rates rising by 2 to 2.7 times. Additionally, social consumption norms for electricity and gas were introduced for households on 1 May, alongside a general tariff increase.

By 2025, another round of tariff hikes is expected: the price of electricity for households will increase from 450 to 600 soums per kWh for consumption up to 200 kWh per month, and the cost of gas will rise from 650 to 1,000 soums per cubic meter.