The delay of reforms in Uzbekistan's energy sector could lead to dire consequences in the near future, Nova24.uz reports .
In particular, the current gas transmission capacity of Uzbekistan's gas transportation system is 190 million cubic meters. If the system is not modernized in a timely manner, by 2030, the capacity will decrease to 146 million cubic meters due to the annual physical wear and tear of pipelines.
At the same time, the projected volume of natural gas consumption by 2030 will be 220.8 million cubic meters per day. In order to meet the growing demand for natural gas in Uzbekistan, measures for the modernization and reconstruction of the gas transportation system and capital repairs have been developed for the years 2023-2030.
Without these measures, by 2025, the gas system's transmission capacity will decrease to 169.9 million cubic meters per day. This will lead to problems with gas supply, even in the summer. Ensuring the supply of natural gas to industrial enterprises and other types of production, not to mention the population of Uzbekistan, may become a complex challenge, leading to a decline in production, price increases, inflation, an increase in the money supply, and its devaluation.
To develop any industry, economic foundations are essential. Therefore, it is time to establish prices for electricity and natural gas through market mechanisms. If these measures are not implemented today, it will be too late tomorrow.
Price optimization will contribute to an increase in the culture of consumption, along with the necessary upgrade of the uninterrupted power supply infrastructure for the population. The effective result will be that people will personally monitor and analyze their electricity consumption and draw conclusions.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
September 25, 2023