Uzbekistan’s largest oil and gas company, Uzbekneftegaz, has established a national drilling enterprise named UNG Burg‘ilash (UNG Drilling), the company said.
Corporate registry data shows the company was officially registered on June 25 of this year with an initial charter capital of 10 billion soums.
The primary mission of the new entity will be to drill oil and gas wells on the Ustyurt Plateau and in other high-potential regions across Uzbekistan. UNG Burg‘ilash is tasked with exploring new hydrocarbon reserves, spearheading their development, and ensuring the stability of national production.
According to Uzbekneftegaz, the enterprise was also formed to implement modern deep-drilling technologies and foster a domestic generation of technical experts in the field. The initiative is projected to create more than 1,000 new jobs.
To equip the new firm, Uzbekneftegaz is procuring 21 modern drilling rigs, specifically ZJ-70 and ZJ-90 models. This machinery will feature digital control systems capable of operating at depths of up to 9,000 meters.
Deliveries of the rigs to Uzbekistan are scheduled to begin in October. The equipment is purpose-built to withstand highly challenging geological conditions, including high-pressure and high-temperature environments.
Additionally, the company will phase in purchases of high-pressure well-cementing units, nitrogen and compressor systems, well-testing and completion equipment, specialized transport, and other machinery. This comprehensive procurement aims to facilitate full-cycle drilling operations under a unified technological framework.
UNG Burg‘ilash also plans to recruit engineers and skilled specialists with international expertise. The hiring process will strictly evaluate professional knowledge, technical skills, and foreign language proficiency.
Furthermore, the company intends to partner with foreign oilfield service companies for drilling mud preparation, cementing, wireline logging, drill bit supply and maintenance, as well as well-testing.
Uzbekneftegaz expects that the deployment of these new technologies will improve well-construction quality, mitigate technical risks, and accelerate drilling timelines.
Looking ahead, UNG Burg‘ilash aims to expand its reach by providing drilling and oilfield services not only domestically but also across neighboring and international markets.
Last year, Uzbekneftegaz produced 25.2 billion cubic meters of gas, falling short of its targets. For the 2026–2027 period, the company's strategy focuses on stabilizing extraction volumes while simultaneously expanding gas reserves and refining capacities.
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