State energy company Uzbekneftegaz is negotiating with Chinese companies, including PetroChina, on supplies of AI-92 and higher-grade petrol and diesel, reported Gazeta.uz.
The company is also discussing larger imports of crude oil and gas condensate for the Bukhara Oil Refinery. Volumes will depend on domestic demand. “Today, there are various risks associated with ensuring a stable supply of petroleum products to the population,” said Farid Muminov, deputy chairman of the Uzbekneftegaz Management Board.
The company did not directly link the move to the Russian market, but the figures point to a sharp shift. Russia previously supplied 85–90% of Uzbekistan’s petrol imports. Monthly imports fell from about 141.8 million litres in April to 11.4 million litres in August, down 76.8% year on year. The Ministry of Energy has attributed the drop to shutdowns of Russian refineries after Ukrainian drone attacks.
Imports have also become more expensive. The average price of imported fuel rose from about $576 to almost $995 per 1,000 litres between April and August, and retail petrol prices in August were 20.2% higher than a year earlier.
Uzbekistan began importing jet fuel from Georgia and Iraq in August.
CentralasianLIGHT.org,
November 3, 2026