The key facts
- 10 cases of illegal mining detected in the first 10 months of 2026, causing nearly 3 billion soums in damages
- The number of detected cases is declining: over 20 were recorded in 2023
- Legal miners are required to pay electricity tariffs twice as high as the standard rate
Damages and detection trends
In the first ten months of 2026, 10 cases related to illegal mining were detected in Uzbekistan; due to unauthorized electricity consumption, the state suffered damages amounting to nearly 3 billion soums. These figures were announced on November 4 at a press conference held at the Content Preparation Center by the leadership of the Inspection for Control over the Use of Electricity, Petroleum Products, and Gas, reports Gazeta.
Why mining is difficult to detect via the meter
Botir Yoku'bov, head of the inspection department, noted that the number of detected illegal mining cases has been decreasing year by year: while more than 20 cases were recorded in 2023, only 10 were identified in the first ten months of the current year. Among the detected cases, according to him, there are also small-scale home mining setups. Detecting mining equipment based solely on electricity consumption volume is impossible, the inspection representative explained: its energy usage does not differ from that of other household appliances. 'A mining device consumes electricity just like an ordinary television, refrigerator, or electric heater. Therefore, it cannot be identified merely by analyzing electricity consumption,' said Yoku'bov. In such cases, law enforcement agencies examine internet traffic and other data, while the inspection cooperates with them.
Tariffs as a factor in illegal mining
According to Yoku'bov, consumers legally engaged in mining are required to pay for electricity at a tariff rate twice as high as the current one. 'High tariffs are also considered one of the key factors driving illegal usage,' the inspection representative noted. Thus, the agency itself highlights the link between the elevated cost of legal mining and some users shifting to illegal operations—this is an editorial comparison of two facts presented by the inspection. Earlier, as Gazeta recalls citing a presidential decree, a special mining zone was established in the country, Besqala Mining Valley, covering the entire territory of Karakalpakstan; the income of its residents is exempt from taxes and fees until 2035.
