Photo: Uztransgaz press service
A new gas field with abnormally high pressure has been discovered in Karakalpakstan, an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan. Already in the initial phase of development, around 100 million cubic meters of natural gas have been extracted, Uzbekneftegaz chairman Bahodir Sidikov said in an interview with Gazeta.uz.
According to Sidikov, the field—called Muynak—is located in the Muynak district. It was first mentioned in September by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who announced the discovery of a major gas deposit on the Ustyurt Plateau.
Sidikov added that during exploratory drilling this summer, an accident occurred: at a depth of about 5,000 meters, there was a gas blowout. It took specialists a month to eliminate the consequences of the incident.
Despite the difficulties, the site is considered both promising and unique due to the abnormally high pressure, which exceeded experts’ estimates and expectations. “We haven’t encountered anything like this in other regions,” Sidikov noted.
The company has begun drilling four additional wells to determine the field’s parameters and assess its reserves.
In two months of work at Muynak, one well produced 100 million cubic meters of gas at a cost of about 45 billion soums ($3.7 million), while revenue reached around 60 billion soums (nearly $5 million). The chairman emphasized that the site’s exceptional pressure makes it truly unique.
Uzbekneftegaz plans to develop the field independently, without attracting foreign investors. The republic has sufficient expertise and financial resources for such work, Sidikov said.
According to the Institute of Energy, as of the end of 2024, Uzbekistan’s proven natural gas reserves amounted to nearly 2 trillion cubic meters. Official statistics indicate, however, that gas production volumes are declining—from 59.4 billion cubic meters in 2019 to 44.6 billion cubic meters last year.
At the same time, Uzbekistan continues to increase gas imports, with Russia and Turkmenistan as its main suppliers.
