Population of Aral Sea region of Uzbekistan has been waiting for cold weather, but it came unexpectedly. Warm days with rain were abruptly changed to frosty weather. Cases of cold-related diseases have skyrocketed among the population.

According to a doctor from Kungrad, “mainly it is children, who are falling sick because of cold, as their weak body cannot cope with it.

In remote areas of Karakalpakstan, night temperature drops to 10 degrees below 0 on Celsius. Nukus and Khorezm regions are slightly “warmer” – 5 degrees below 0. Despite this cold, homes in Uzbekistan are still not heated well. While central heating does not give a normal temperature, level of gas in gas burners is too low to produce heat.

In villages and remote areas the situation is even worse. The existing gas network remains idle. Residens of Muynak, Chimbay and Kungrad areas are almost in catastrophic situation. But the winter hasn’t started yet.

Berdimurat Abdirov (name changed for security reasons), resident of Amudarya district of Karakalpakstan, in a telephone conversation with our journalist did not hide his bitterness.

“For you, people in Tashkent, it must be good. You have no idea what is going on here. We thought that Erniyazov’s clan will be removed from power and there would be less cases of theft and corruption, but nothing has changed.

We have to survive and freeze, freeze and survive. (Musa Erniyazov – Chairman of Jokargy Kenges (parliament) of Karakalpakstan. – ed.). There is no one to complain to. There was a journalist Salidzhan Abdurakhmanov, who lived in our neighborhood, but now he’s in jail… “

It should be noted that official Tashkent is in charge of all energy issues, and local officials in Karakalpakstan can only nominally rule the autonomous republic within Uzbekistan.

Already in spring of 2012 it became known that the people of Aral region are graciously given the right to survival. The government created territorial coal distribution centers with 12 branches across Karakalpakstan and Khorezm, which now deliver coal to the population and budget organizations in the region.

The government’s decision made in March 2012 stated that “measures taken to ensure the sustainable delivery of fuel and energy resources to the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Bukhara and Khorezm regions.” For this purpose, the government has spent at least $5 million at the official exchange rate.

At that time, even the locals did not pay attention to this news, or simply were not informed about it. Local journalist, who heard the government’s decision, commented bitterly: “The weather was hot, about 30 degrees above 0 on Celsius, but having heard the plans of the government we suddenly felt icy fear.

Last winter we experienced great difficulties because of extraordinary cold weather – 25 below 0. Especially in rural places, where there is no gas, but there is always power blackouts. I fear that we will be in the same situation in coming winter – suffer from cold weather. “

Energy companies have been intensively developing gas fields in the Aral region, which makes the government’s decision illogical for the residents.

Recently, Internet user from Uzbekistan left a comment on the website that wrote about the new plans of “Lukoil”, Russia’s second largest oil company, to increase gas and oil production in Aral region: “Does it mean that 90% of produced energy is owned by Russia? It means that our government sold them oil and gas fields… Will they be giving gas to local population? Or everything is for sale?”

Over recent years, Uzbekistan has attracted foreign investors for exploration and production of energy in its territory. Russian company “Lukoil” plans to invest in their Uzbek projects up to 5 billion dollars annually in the next five years. China’s National Corporation for exploration and development of oil and gas (CNODC) additionally invests 14.9 million dollars in exploration works in 2012-2014 years. Gas pipeline “Central Asia-China” has already begun transporting Uzbek gas to China.

«Money, money …» – this is not a song of Liza Minelli but anthem of modern bureaucracy in Uzbekistan. This is demonstrated in the report of Islam Karimov, president of Uzbekistan, at the session of the Cabinet of Ministers on the main results of 2011 and the priorities of socio-economic development in 2012. In his speech, president emphasized the “serious problems in the world market due to more and more noticeable drops in demand, which can have a negative impact on the realization of the export potential of our country and reduce income in foreign currency.”

Even more bitter bewilderment caused another statement of the president: “We have not yet learned to take wise care of the unique, given by nature, non-reproducible resources – oil, gas condensate, natural gas and other fuel and energy resources.” Does the president mean that we are bad owners, and Chinese and Russians can better manage the country’s natural resources?

In addition all environmental problems, residents of Aral region will have to feel in their skin all negative effects of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and other dangerous gas produced from burning the terrible coal from Angren.

And so-called health trains coming from Tashkent will not be able to cope with it. Though they have good intentions – “to organize the meetings and conversations among the population to promote healthy lifestyles and improve health culture”…

Authorities in Uzbekistan are actively using environmental organizations to promote alternative energy. The Uzbek press often publishes materials about the benefits of solar and wind energy.

Due to the lack of investment, prospects for the introduction of “green” energy are very vague. But creative thinking of Uzbek authorities is uncontrollable. Today, they are interested in a technology of biogas from animal waste to meet the needs of the population…