In an official statement released on April 16, the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan addressed recent rumors concerning the return of oil products by Afghanistan. The committee categorically denied these claims as baseless and incorrect.
According to the committee, "There has been false information circulating in the media claiming that Afghanistan returned about 120,000 liters of oil products to Uzbekistan due to poor quality. We can confirm that these reports are completely untrue."
The actual sequence of events, as detailed by the Customs Committee, began on January 20, 2024, when 120 tons of unleaded gasoline, transported in two railway tankers from Orsknefteorgsintez in Russia to Bashir Navid Petroleum in Afghanistan, transited through Uzbekistan from Kazakhstan via the Saryogoch - Chukursoy stations. These tankers then proceeded to Afghanistan on February 7, 2024, from the Ayritom station in the Surkhandarya region.
In a January statement, Uzbekneftgaz Chairman, Bahodir Siddiqov, responded to similar reports. He claimed that the 62 tons of oil returned by Afghanistan at that time was, in fact, of high quality, contrary to the reports suggesting otherwise.
"The news spread that Afghanistan returned Uzbek oil because it was of poor quality. This is false information because we did not send oil to Afghanistan,” Saddiqov said
The Customs Committee statement further clarified that the same oil products were later transferred back into Uzbekistan on April 6, 2024, through the Ayritom station, as part of a routine transportation operation.
The Customs Committee urged caution and responsibility in reportage, especially given the friendly ties between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. "We urge our Afghan partners not to hastily spread unverified and unsubstantiated reports," the statement read.
Additionally, the committee called on media within Uzbekistan to adhere strictly to the "Code of Professional Ethics of Journalists of Uzbekistan," emphasizing the importance of not disseminating unverified or biased information. The clarification aims to set the record straight and prevent the spread of misinformation that could potentially harm bilateral relations.
Another similar report was made by Afghan officials in September 2023 stating that 80 wagons of low-quality oil were returned to Uzbekistan.
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