TASHKENT, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank announced on Monday it has approved a 10.6 million U.S. dollar grant to Uzbekistan to help the country repair its aging natural gas transmission system and reduce pipeline leaks.

Uzbekistan's gas infrastructure has deteriorated due to chronic underinvestment in maintenance and repairs. The World Bank said that without timely repair work, Uzbekistan's annual gas leakage is expected to reach 1.75 billion cubic meters by 2030, resulting in a fiscal revenue loss of 228 million dollars.

The Uzbekistan Gas Leak Repair Facility Project, financed by grant funds from the World Bank's Global Flaring and Methane Reduction Trust Fund, will help establish processes for identifying and eliminating most leaks in the gas transmission networks managed by the state company JSC Uztransgaz.

It is estimated that by 2029, the project will recover 47,500 tonnes of natural gas annually for use by local households and businesses. ■