BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. Uzbekistan is
intensifying efforts to expand its domestic natural gas resource
base, with increasing emphasis on geological exploration, deeper
drilling, and the development of new hydrocarbon reserves as part
of its long-term energy security objectives. President Shavkat
Mirziyoyev has repeatedly emphasized the importance of increasing
gas reserves and production, as well as advancing the exploration
of deeper and technically more challenging formations.
Against this backdrop, the discovery of the new
Karatau gas-condensate field in the central part of the Ustyurt
region may represent a significant addition to Uzbekistan’s
exploration portfolio. The field was identified following the
drilling of exploration well No. 1 to a depth of 4,860 meters in
the Muynak district of Karakalpakstan. According to Uzbekneftegaz,
testing conducted on October 3 resulted in a commercially
significant flow of hydrocarbons from Lower Jurassic formations at
depths of 3,213–3,273 meters.
While Uzbekneftegaz has not yet disclosed estimates of
the field’s reserves or potential production volumes, the
geological significance of the discovery may extend beyond the
Karatau field itself. The company stated that the results could
create new prospects for the exploration of deep formations in the
Ustyurt region and contribute to the identification of additional
promising areas.
The discovery is particularly relevant in the context
of Uzbekistan’s efforts to maintain stable gas supplies amid
continued growth in domestic energy demand.
President Mirziyoyev has repeatedly placed the expansion of gas
reserves and geological exploration at the center of the country's
energy strategy. In January 2026, while reviewing Uzbekneftegaz's
development plans, he emphasized that the
company's main task was to increase natural gas reserves and
volumes of its production.
The policy direction is backed by substantial exploration and
production targets. Uzbekneftegaz reported that its enterprises
produced 25.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2025 and
drilled 56 new wells. For 2026–2027, the company plans to implement
more than 300 geological and technical measures aimed at increasing
reserves, improving production efficiency, and maintaining stable
output.
The Karatau discovery therefore comes at a time when Uzbekistan
is placing greater emphasis on finding new resources while also
improving the efficiency of existing fields. In April 2026,
Mirziyoyev called for broader 2D and 3D seismic surveys, new
drilling programs and greater use of international expertise in
developing hard-to-recover reserves and deep, complex wells.
The country is also investing in the technological capacity
required for this strategy. Plans presented to the president
include $38.8 million in investment to modernize geophysical
well-logging equipment and acquire a modern 3D seismic survey
complex. These measures are expected to increase the annual area
covered by 3D seismic surveys from 1,800 to 5,000 square kilometers
and extend exploration depth from 4,500 to 8,000 meters.
This makes the depth of the Karatau drilling particularly
notable. The first exploration well reached 4,860 meters, while the
gas-bearing Lower Jurassic formations were identified more than
3,200 meters below the surface. The discovery provides additional
geological information that could help Uzbek specialists better
assess deeper structures across Ustyurt.
The region has strategic importance for Uzbekistan's hydrocarbon
sector. Ustyurt is already one of the country's major areas for oil
and gas exploration, and expanding exploration into deeper
formations could increase the number of prospective structures
available for future drilling.
At the same time, Karatau represents an important exploration
achievement rather than an immediate increase in gas production.
While testing confirmed a commercially significant hydrocarbon
flow, additional drilling and appraisal work will be needed to
determine the field’s reserves, resource quality, and overall
commercial potential.
Uzbekistan plans to complete drilling of exploration well No. 2
by the end of 2026 and begin drilling wells No. 3 and No. 4. The
results of these wells will be important in determining whether
Karatau represents a standalone discovery or part of a larger
hydrocarbon system.
The timing also fits closely with Mirziyoyev’s broader approach
to energy security. In 2026, the president has repeatedly
instructed officials to maintain stable gas supplies, develop new
reserves, improve existing fields and strengthen geological
exploration. In August, he also stressed the importance of ensuring
sufficient hydrocarbon supplies to the domestic market and closely
monitoring the process from drilling wells through their connection
to the gas transmission system.
Mirziyoyev has also emphasized Central Asia’s resource potential
as an important foundation for attracting investment and
technology. Speaking at the first “Central Asia + Japan” summit in
Tokyo in December 2025, he said: “And we have something to offer.
Our region is rich in natural resources and is located at the
crossroads of global transport, trade and energy routes.”
For Uzbekistan, the significance of Karatau lies not only in the
gas and condensate discovered at the field, but also in what the
exploration results could reveal about the wider Ustyurt basin. If
subsequent drilling confirms additional commercially viable
resources, the discovery could encourage further investment in deep
exploration and contribute to the country's longer-term efforts to
expand its domestic energy resource base, reflecting a broader
strategy that combines deeper drilling, advanced geological
technologies, and more efficient field development to identify new
resources and meet growing energy demand.
