Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy announced that methane (CNG) filling stations across the country will resume 24-hour operations starting at 9:00 AM on December 30, allowing vehicle owners to refuel at any time of day. The ministry stated that the resumption of round-the-clock service will eliminate the need for queues and provide greater convenience for drivers.
Earlier in December, the operation of gas filling stations had been temporarily restricted to prevent a drop in gas pressure in residential areas and social facilities. The Ministry cited a technical malfunction in Turkmenistan’s gas transmission system, which led to a reduction in imported gas volumes. During the restricted period, CNG filling stations were only operational for several hours each day.
Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov reported that the technical issue caused a shortage of approximately 6 mn cubic meters of gas. He added that Uzbekistan has been compensating for the reduced imports by drawing up to 42 mn cubic meters of gas per day from underground storage facilities.
Uzbekistan imports natural gas primarily from Russia and Turkmenistan. Over the first eleven months of 2025, gas imports totaled $1.5 bn, representing a 1.2% decrease compared with the same period in 2024. Imports increased sharply in November, reaching $334.3 mn, 1.8 times higher than in November 2024. Gas exports in November amounted to $55.9 mn, up 5.5% year-on-year.
The resumption of 24/7 methane station operations is expected to stabilize fuel availability for vehicles and support uninterrupted gas supply to households and social infrastructure.
