TASHKENT, October 21 Uzbekneftegaz JSC began importing high-octane gasoline AI-100 from Russia, sales of fuel at the first stage began in Tashkent, the company’s press service reported.
“On October 20, the sale of AI-100 gasoline imported from Russia began in Tashkent,” said a representative of Uzbekneftegaz.
He could not name the volume of supplies, specifying that the sale of high-octane Russian fuel is carried out in Tashkent at the gas stations of UNG Petro LLC, owned by Uzbekneftegaz. The retail price of AI-100 gasoline is 15.8 thousand soums ($1.3) per liter. For comparison: the cost of AI-92 gasoline at gas stations in Uzbekistan is 10.2 thousand soums (0.8 dollars), AI-80 — 6050 (0.5 dollars).
At the end of January, Uzbekneftegaz JSC began importing AI-80 gasoline from Russia. The suppliers were Gazpromneft, Tatneft, and a number of private structures. During the winter period, about 100 thousand tons of this type of fuel, which is most in demand in the domestic market of Uzbekistan, were purchased from the Russian Federation.
In August, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev instructed relevant departments and companies to import 120 thousand tons of gasoline by the end of 2023 to ensure stable fuel supplies in the autumn-winter period.
In early October, during Mirziyoyev’s visit to Russia, agreements were signed between the governments of the two countries on expanding cooperation in the field of oil supplies. In addition, the Ministries of Transport of Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation signed an agreement on the supply of petroleum products by rail.
The total capacity of oil refineries in Uzbekistan is about 10 million tons, which today are not fully loaded. In recent years, the country has regularly experienced an acute shortage of gasoline and other types of petroleum products. According to official statistics, oil production in Uzbekistan at the end of 2022 increased by 1.8%, to 787.8 thousand tons, gasoline production — up to 1.26 million tons (+11.5%) diesel fuel — up to 800.1 thousand tons (+5.9%).