Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — In the first half of 2024, Uzbekistan imported 5.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas, which is 2.2 times higher than the amount imported in the same period of 2023. This information was shared by Mubin Mirzaev, the First Deputy Chairman of the Tax Committee of Uzbekistan, during a meeting of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.

"During the first six months of 2023, we imported 2.3 billion cubic meters of gas, while in the first half of 2024, 5.2 billion cubic meters were imported, which is 2.2 times more," said Mirzaev.

According to the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan, the cost of gas imports for the first half of 2024 amounted to over US$809 million, which is four times higher than the amount spent in the first half of 2023.

Mirzaev noted that gas production in Uzbekistan in the first half of the year was 13.7 billion cubic meters, which is 1.4 billion cubic meters less than the production in the first half of 2023.

Furthermore, the State Statistics Committee reported that 22.36 billion cubic meters of gas were produced in Uzbekistan during the first half of 2024, which is 5.1% less compared to the same period of last year.

Mirzaev highlighted that the increase in imports and the reduction in gas production led to a decrease in tax revenues. Uzbekistan lost 1.4 trillion soums in revenue from natural gas.

"We did not receive excise tax revenue of 1.3 trillion soums," he said. Mirzaev reminded that a zero excise rate was established by presidential decree for gas imports. Due to the reduction in gas production, the budget also lost 104 billion soums in excise revenues.

The tax committee representative mentioned that in the first half of 2024, Uzbekistan purchased 1,000 cubic meters of gas at US$160 or 2 million soums. Additionally, 240 soums are paid at customs.

"We sell gas to the population and enterprises at prices ranging from 480,000 to 1.5 million soums. We refund VAT at 60 soums per 1,000 cubic meters," he explained.

Mubin Mirzaev added that in the first half of 2024, UzGasTrade, which handles the centralized purchase and sale of natural gas, refunded VAT amounting to 1 trillion soums instead of collecting it.