Export of Uzbek oil is impossible, at least in the near future, as the republic does not only lack potential for oil export, but also is the importer of this resource, Uzbek experts on Central Asian issues, Russia”s and China”s politics in the region Vladimir Paramonov, Alexei Strokov, and Oleg Stolpovsky stated in their joint research “Russian oil and gas presence in Uzbekistan: main problems, prognoses, and risks.” There is a law prohibiting export of raw oil in Uzbekistan, experts noted.
Although it is expected that volume of oil extraction in Uzbekistan will somewhat increase in the next 20 years, still internal consumption of this resource will grow even more rapidly. In the result, Uzbekistan”s dependency upon oil import will only increase eventually, analytics consider. This gives Russia additional opportunities on intensification of oil and gas cooperation with Uzbekistan, including that on penetration to oil products market of the republic.
However Russia faces serious competition in this regard from the side of Kazakhstan and maybe even Turkmenistan, Uzbek experts concluded.
