This week, key topics were discussed in the fields of energy, gambling, and the Central Bank. In this weekly roundup, Spot has compiled the most important articles and news you may have missed.
Energy
In Uzbekistan, temporary restrictions were implemented on the operation of automotive gas filling compressor stations (AGNS). The Ministry of Energy noted that against the backdrop of colder weather, daily natural gas consumption by the population increased by 20% compared to the previous week, while electricity consumption rose by 15%.
“In accordance with the plans and schedules developed in cooperation with local self-government bodies, temporary restrictions on the operation of automotive gas filling compressor stations are planned to be introduced in some regions with high consumption,” the ministry reported.
Amid the restrictions on gas stations, the Ministry of Energy and "Uzbekneftegaz" significantly increased the supply of AI-80 gasoline on the exchange. Over the week, fuel sales grew almost fourfold, exceeding 8,110 tons. However, despite the increased fuel supply, the price per ton of gasoline remains unchanged at around 9.3 million sums.
Meanwhile, on December 13, the price of propane decreased by 6.8%, falling to 6.86 million sums per ton. Since the beginning of December, propane has become over 11% cheaper, and over the last 1.5 months, it has decreased by 32%.
"Hududgazta'minot" is introducing temporary restrictions on gas supply to greenhouses. These measures have been implemented due to the sharp drop in temperature and will be lifted once gas pressure is restored.
Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov spoke about how Uzbekistan transitioned from being a net exporter to a net importer of energy resources.
Photo: Evgeny Sorochin / Spot
Central Bank
On December 11, the president sent a proposal to the Senate of the Oliy Majlis regarding the dismissal of Mamarizo Nurmuradov from the position of chairman of the Central Bank. He had held this position since 2017 after the death of Faizulla Mullajanov, who led the agency since 1991. In May 2022, Nurmuradov's powers were extended for five more years.
Several hours later, Shavkat Mirziyoyev presented the candidacy of Timur Ishmetov for the position of chairman of the Central Bank to the upper chamber of parliament. The Senate Council decided to appoint Timur Ishmetov as the head of the Central Bank.
Timur Ishmetov was born in 1979 in Tashkent. In 2000, he graduated from the capital's financial institute and became a leading economist in the special department for currency operations at the Central Bank. He worked at the regulator until 2019, leaving as the first deputy chairman of the Central Bank to take a similar position at the Ministry of Finance.
In February 2020, Ishmetov became the Minister of Finance and led the department until December 2022. His last position was as the first deputy advisor to the president on the development of economic sectors, investments, and foreign trade.
For his work, Timur Ishmetov has earned a reputation as a reformer, advocating minimal state intervention in the economy and opposing regulation through prohibitions.
“We can only support growth if we continue reforms. If we delay and slow down the reform process, starting from the second and third year, it will be almost impossible to grow at high rates,” he stated in November 2022.
0Photo: Central Bank
Gambling
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved requirements for organizers of gambling, lotteries, and online betting (bookmakers). The document outlines the conditions under which these activities can be conducted starting January 1, 2025.
In Uzbekistan, only legal entities that are residents of the country are allowed to organize gambling, betting, and lotteries. The servers hosting the games must also be located within the republic's territory.
The authorized capital of the organizing company for games and bets must be at least 150,000 BRV (56.25 billion sums). For lotteries, a minimum of 55,000 BRV (20.625 billion sums) is required.
It is mandatory to create a reserve fund in a special bank account—75,000 BRV (28.125 billion sums) for games and bets, and 40,000 BRV (15 billion sums) for lotteries. Additionally, it is required to provide the National Agency for Project Development (NAPF) with necessary information about the activities of the licensee free of charge.
The National Agency for Prospective Projects is responsible for licensing bookmakers, lotteries, and gambling organizers, as well as regulating their operations. A separate license is required for each type of activity.
The license is valid for 5 years. A fee of 500 BRV (18.75 million sums) is charged for issuing a new license, and 250 BRV (9,375,000 sums) for modifying a license.
Articles of the Week
Spot summarizes the outgoing 2024 year by discussing with expert Yulius Yusupov the main trends in the economy, the reasons for rising inflation, and the strengthening of the Uzbek sum in real terms, the risks of increased microcrediting, the prospects of Uzbekistan joining the WTO, and forecasts for 2025.
In 2023, the IT Village project was launched in Samarkand, aimed at providing free programming education to children. Project manager Bobur Sadullaev shared the results of the complex's work and future plans in an interview with Spot.
Quote of the Week
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The Ministry of Justice announced the cancellation of the decision on the "spiritual expertise" of media content, which was announced in November by the Spirituality Center. The document did not pass state registration and has no legal force.
Earlier, the proposal sparked widespread criticism in society and social networks. Users criticized the project, calling it an attempt at censorship under the guise of moral protection. Representatives of the creative industry also expressed concern over the limitation of creative freedom:
Recently, Culture Minister Ozodbek Nazarbekov commented that the draft law is still under discussion. Responding to the question that many creative individuals perceive the project as censorship, the head of the Ministry of Culture stated that the demand for censorship comes from the people themselves.