State assets chief denies secret privatization of UNG Petro, Chinaz refinery

State assets chief denies secret privatization of UNG Petro, Chinaz refinery

Sohibjon Murodov, director of the State Assets Management Agency, has dismissed claims that the UNG Petro filling station chain and the Chinaz oil refinery were privatized in secret, saying both were sold through direct negotiations with the involvement of international consultants.

“There was no secret privatization there,” Murodov said in an interview with Daryo.

He said the assets were sold through direct negotiations rather than an open auction, and that the results were announced. According to Murodov, the lack of information may have contributed to criticism of the deals, which sparked debate on social media and in the press.

Murodov said he reviewed the transactions only afterward, since he was not working at the agency, known as Davaktiv, at the time.

“If you look at the cases discussed on social media, it wasn't a secret privatization. It was done through direct dialogue, with international consultants involved, and the results were in fact announced,” he said.

He said the agency concluded that the public must be kept informed at every stage of privatization. Information is now posted on Davaktiv’s official website and social media accounts, and a dedicated electronic platform has been created to show which assets are being sold and how far their privatization has advanced.

In June 2023, it was reported that privatization had begun for the state’s 100% stake in UNG Petro’s charter capital. A tender was announced to choose a professional consulting company.