More than 10 million litres of petrol that failed to meet quality standards were identified in Uzbekistan during the first ten months of 2026. Violations were found at 330 filling stations out of almost 3,000 inspected. This led to a temporary restriction on fuel sales at stations where laboratory tests confirmed non-compliance with the regulations.
RESULTS OF FILLING STATION INSPECTIONS
According to Gazeta.uz, on 4 November representatives of the Inspectorate for Control over the Use of Electricity, Petroleum Products and Gas under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan ("Uzenergoinspectorate") reported the results of inspections for January–October.
The head of the department for control in the oil and gas sector, Dilshod Karimov, said that violations were found at approximately 11% of the filling stations inspected. Of the 330 cases identified, 240 concerned motor petrol.
The inspections covered AI-92 and AI-95 grades of petrol. The inspectorate did not specify which particular fuel parameters failed to meet the established standards.
WHERE SUBSTANDARD FUEL WAS FOUND
The largest volumes of non-compliant petrol were identified in Andijan and Fergana regions.
Similar violations were recorded in Navoi, Namangan and Samarkand regions.
Fuel samples are tested in the central and regional laboratories of the "Uzenergoinspectorate". Where necessary, other accredited laboratories are brought in to carry out the checks.
WHAT MEASURES ARE TAKEN AGAINST OFFENDERS
If laboratory testing confirms that fuel does not meet the standards, the filling station's operations are temporarily suspended.
Sales are only permitted to resume after a repeat inspection and the issue of a certificate of conformity.
Over the ten months of 2026, the inspectorate prevented the sale of around 7,800 tonnes of substandard petroleum products.
The department has previously reported fines for similar violations. In Andijan region, the company M. O. X. was fined 23.6 million soum (around 885,000 tenge), and in Bukhara region the company B. N. B. was fined 20.1 million soum (around 754,000 tenge).
HOW MUCH IS 10 MILLION LITRES OF PETROL
10 million litres of petrol would be enough to completely fill approximately 200,000 cars with 50-litre fuel tanks.
Converted to weight, this volume amounts to around 7,400 tonnes. According to Uzbekistan's National Statistics Committee, in 2025 the country produced 1.2 million tonnes of motor petrol. The volume of substandard fuel identified is therefore equivalent to approximately 0.6% of annual petrol production.
