President Shavkat Mirziyoyev issued a stern warning to senior officials and regional leaders during a videoconference meeting, demanding swift action to resolve prolonged disruptions in the liquefied gas supply across Uzbekistan.
The president criticized the lack of urgency among officials, blaming their negligence and poor discipline for the delayed reforms and continued hardships faced by the population.
Mirziyoyev noted that liquefied gas supply has been disrupted for up to 70 days, with 70% of complaints in Andijan and Surkhandarya linked to the issue.
“If we’re facing this many gas problems during the summer heat, how will people manage in winter?” the president asked. “This is a final warning: resolve the issue within two weeks, or those responsible will leave their positions voluntarily
The president’s statement signals increasing frustration as public dissatisfaction over energy reliability grows, especially in rural and industrial areas.
Another key topic of the meeting was the rising electricity demand due to the recent rise in temperatures. Although the summer began with milder weather, consumption has increased significantly as the heat intensifies.
In response, Mirziyoyev highlighted recent efforts to improve energy efficiency. Two months ago, the government established the Energy Efficiency Agency and allocated UZS 100bn ($7.9mn) from the state budget to support its work.
The Ministry of Energy, along with the new agency, will now identify civil servants—particularly those in ministries, khokimiyats (regional administrations), and state-owned enterprises—who consume over 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month.
These individuals will be encouraged to transition to energy-efficient technologies, with support in the form of “green repair” loans or subsidies. If necessary, assistance will also come from the state’s extra-budgetary fund.
The government plans to help at least 100,000 high-consumption households shift to more efficient systems by the end of the year. Mirziyoyev emphasized that without proper implementation, officials responsible for delays may face dismissal.
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