Uzbekistan weighs joining Azerbaijan refinery project for fuel imports

August 29, 2026 at 01:45 PM2 min

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Uzbekistan is considering joining a new oil refinery project in Azerbaijan as a partner, with part of the output to be supplied to the Uzbek market, Energy Minister Sherzod Khodjayev said. The cooperation aims to ensure stable fuel supplies amid rising domestic demand. Uzbekistan's oil and oil product imports rose 8.1% to $1.11 billion in the first half of 2026.

Key Facts

Uzbekistan's oil and oil product imports rose 8.1% to $1.11 billion in January–June 2026 compared with the same period last year.
Gasoline imports surged 1.78 times to $409.5 million in the first half of 2026, while diesel imports fell 12% to $228.9 million.
Uzbekistan's oil production declined 8% to 655,700 tonnes in 2025, and gasoline output fell 6.8% to 1.2 million tonnes.
Uzbekistan's total refinery capacity is estimated at about 10 million tonnes per year, but existing plants are not fully utilized.

Proposed Partnership

Energy Minister Sherzod Khodjayev announced the possibility of Uzbekistan joining a new oil refinery project in Azerbaijan as a partner. Part of the refinery's output would be supplied to the Uzbek market under the proposed arrangement. Khodjayev said the cooperation could help ensure stable supplies of oil products to the domestic market. Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan have previously explored long-term oil and oil product supplies and joint hydrocarbon processing.

Import Growth

Uzbekistan's oil and oil product imports rose 8.1% to $1.11 billion in the first half of 2026. Gasoline imports increased 1.78 times to $409.5 million, while diesel imports fell 12% to $228.9 million. Official statistics do not disclose the countries of origin or physical volumes of imported fuel.

Domestic Production Constraints

Uzbekistan's oil production fell 8% to 655,700 tonnes in 2025, and gasoline output declined 6.8% to 1.2 million tonnes. The country's refinery capacity is about 10 million tonnes per year, but existing plants are not fully utilized. Uzbekistan has experienced repeated shortages of gasoline and other oil products in recent years.