TASHKENT- Uzbekistan plans to produce 56.3 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas in 2022, increasing production by 4% from 2021, the Uzbek Energy Ministry said on Friday.
The Central Asian country will also increase production of liquefied petroleum gas this year to 0.832 million tonnes from 0.645 million tonnes last year.
"Uzbekneftegaz will increase the volume of prospective reserves by 35 bcm of natural gas and 1.0 million tonnes of liquid hydrocarbons through exploration work at 20 new fields," the ministry added.
Uzbekistan used to export gas to Russia and China, but as domestic consumption growth has outpaced production it has halted exports and begun buying gas from Russia's Gazprom.
(Reporting by Mukhammadsharif Mamatkulov Editing by David Goodman) ((olzhas.auyezov@thomsonreuters.com; +7 727 2508 500; Reuters Messaging: olzhas.auyezov.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
