Uzbekistan plans to increase its gas imports from Russia nearly 3.6-fold to 11.7 bln cubic meters annually by 2030, as per a government decree. This decision, aligning with President Mirziyoyev’s recent visit to Russia, aims to counteract the country’s declining gas production, which fell 9.6% in 2023 following a 3.9% drop in 2022, marking Uzbekistan as a net energy importer, mainly due to the depletion of developed gas fields operated by Uzbekneftegaz. Separately, Japan offered a USD 246 mln loan to aid Uzbekistan’s economic and social development.