The World Bank backs Uzbekistan methane reduction plan with $10.6 million gas network repair funding

The World Bank has approved a $10.6 million grant to support leak detection and repair across Uzbekistan’s gas transmission network. The initiative aims to curb methane emissions, reduce energy losses, and improve domestic gas availability while strengthening state revenues and operational efficiency in the country’s energy sector.

Uzbekistan is set to implement a targeted program to repair leaks in its aging gas transmission infrastructure after securing a $10.6 million grant from The World Bank, according to official disclosures. The funding will support the Uzbekistan Gas Leak Repair Facility Project, designed to identify and fix methane leaks across the national pipeline network. The initiative will be financed through the Global Flaring and Methane Reduction Trust Fund and will focus on infrastructure operated by JSC Uztransgaz, the state-owned company responsible for managing Uzbekistan’s gas transmission system.

Uztransgaz oversees the transportation of natural gas across the country and plays a central role in supplying energy to domestic consumers and industrial users. Uzbekistan’s gas network has experienced operational degradation after years of limited maintenance investment, leading to gas losses and reduced system efficiency. Projections indicate that without corrective action, cumulative losses could reach approximately 1.75 billion cubic meters by 2030, translating into an estimated $228 million in foregone government revenue. Addressing these inefficiencies has implications beyond fiscal recovery.

By capturing gas that would otherwise be lost, the program is expected to increase domestic energy supply, improve reliability for households and industry, and reduce methane emissions from the energy sector. For businesses and investors, the project signals Uzbekistan’s broader effort to modernize energy infrastructure while aligning with global methane reduction initiatives. The development could support industrial energy stability, create technical and engineering employment, and attract further international financing aimed at improving efficiency across Central Asia’s gas value chain.