Uzbekistan abandons Ai-80 gasoline in favor of high-octane fuel

Starting from September 2025, Uzbekneftegaz officially stops producing Ai-80 gasoline. By the end of this year, it is planned to sell all remaining fuel, after which the company will fully switch to the production and sale of gasoline with a higher octane rating. This step is in line with the national agenda for modernizing the energy sector, moving towards environmentally sound standards, and improving the technological sustainability of the fuel sector.

The process of phasing out the Ai-80 is accompanied by a strategic modernization of production facilities. A key role in this is played by the Bukhara Oil Refinery, where in partnership with the Chinese corporation CNPC, a project is being implemented to produce up to one million tons of high-octane gasoline per year. According to the agreements reached, 60 percent of the total volume will be Ai-92 gasoline, the remaining 40 percent — Ai-95.

The company has already conducted technological tests for the production of Ai-92 with the use of additives, and an infrastructure for storing and mixing components has been created. Serial production of a new generation of fuel has been launched. This will not only improve the quality, but also reduce the cost of production thanks to localized technologies.

In 2025, the volume of gasoline production in Uzbekistan will be about 1.03 million tons. Of these, 487 thousand tons are accounted for by Ai-80, and 543 thousand tons — by Ai-92 gasoline and higher grades. However, the release of the Ai-80 will be completed in September. Starting from October, the Ai-92 production volumes will reach 90 thousand tons per month.

Against the background of the abolition of maximum fuel prices from July 10 of this year and the accelerated growth of prices for Ai-80, the decision to abandon low-octane fuel looks particularly relevant. According to experts, the continued production of K-2 (Euro-2) gasoline in the context of market transformation only exacerbates structural imbalances, creating conditions for shortages and price distortions.

Economic analyst Otabek Bakirov emphasizes that the issue of abandoning the Ai-80 has been postponed since 2020, despite obvious environmental and technological arguments. According to him, the most rational moment for implementing the reform is the summer period, when consumption and logistics are within a manageable framework. The expert also emphasized the need not only to reduce the production of Ai-80, but also to actively increase the supply of competitive Ai-92 gasoline,as well as to expand the import of higher-quality fuel.

According to available estimates, the annual demand for gasoline in Uzbekistan is about 1.2-1.3 million tons, of which a significant part is accounted for by Ai-80. In the future, the key task is to replace this volume with Ai-92 gasoline and higher grades. This requires the removal of administrative barriers to imports, including transportation quotas, logistics restrictions, and technical requirements.

In the long term, full compliance with environmental standards "Euro-4" and higher is expected. The September decree of the President of Uzbekistan provides for a phased restriction of the use of motor fuel that does not meet these requirements from 2028. In this regard, a deep modernization is planned at the Bukhara and Ferghana refineries. It is also planned to ban the import of gasoline that does not meet the Euro-2 and Euro-3 standards.

According to the Ministry of Energy, the upgrade will take up to 32 months to complete. A feasibility study will be submitted by the end of 2024, after which the project will be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers for consideration. These measures are consistent with the state program within the framework of the strategy "Uzbekistan – 2030", where 2025 is declared the Year of Environmental Protection and "green" Economy.

In international practice, Ai-80 gasoline is practically not used. Its production remains only in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. The K-2 (Euro-2) standards allow for significantly higher levels of harmful substances-sulfur, benzene, aromatic and olefin hydrocarbons-compared to the requirements of Euro-5. This has a negative impact on the environment and public health.

In some regions of Uzbekistan, citizens complained about the sharp smell of gasoline associated with the use of additives that increase the octane number in the absence of strict requirements for the content of aromatic components. This only confirms the need to move to modern, environmentally friendly fuel standards and dismantle outdated technological practices.