President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has announced the discovery of a significant natural gas field in the Ustyurt region of Karakalpakstan, located in the northwest of the country. According to the presidential press service, the gas was found at a record depth of 6,500 meters, marking a new milestone for Uzbekistan's oil and gas sector.

Previously, exploration in the country was typically carried out at depths of 2,500 to 3,000 meters. Mirziyoyev stated that this is the first time in the nation’s industrial history that such a large gas reserve has been found at this depth.

Details about the estimated reserves and the companies involved in the drilling have not yet been disclosed.

The president also highlighted Uzbekistan's rich reserves of critical minerals, including tungsten, molybdenum, and titanium, adding that Central Asia may hold 10–15% of the world’s total reserves of such valuable resources.