At a Glance:
 CIA map Uzbekistan is the eighth-largest producer of natural gas in the world, but lacks the ability to export most of it. Uzbekistan currently serves as a crucial link in the gas transport chain linking Turkmenistan's enormous gas deposits with Russia. Uzbekistan is party to the Central Asia Oil Pipeline agreement with Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. If completed, the pipeline would transport oil from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and other Central Asian states via Afghanistan to Gwadar on Pakistan's Arabian Sea coast. Uzbekistan is also party to the parallel Central Asia Gas Pipeline project, which would bring gas from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to Pakistan and India, via Afghanistan. Likewise, Uzbekistan could contribute to a proposed pipeline linking Kazakhstan and China, and has actively been seeking to participate in the project. Population: 25,155,064 (July 2001 est.) Exports: Cotton, gold, natural gas, mineral fertilizers Exports: $2.9 billion Exports—Partners: Russia 13 percent, Switzerland 10 percent, UK 10 percent Natural Gas Production: 1935.26 billion cubic feet Dry Exports: 526.19 billion cubic feet Oil Production: 116,000 barrels per day Oil Exports: 29,650 barrels per day Sources: U.S. Dept. of Energy, CIA World Factbook, Center for Strategic Studies, East-West Institute |