TASHKENT, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan formed a new ministry to oversee energy sectors including its oil and gas, electricity and hydro energy industries, said the country's government press service on Monday.
Alisher Sultanov, a former deputy prime minister, has been appointed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to head the new ministry of energy, said a government spokesman.
While serving as deputy prime minister, Sultanov was in charge of geology, fuel and energy, chemical, petrochemical and metallurgical industries.
The newly formed energy ministry will be entrusted to run the fuel and energy sectors of the country and bring together three state-run companies of Uzbekneftegaz, Uzbekenergo and Uzbek hydro power.
Earlier, Mirziyoyev signed a decree to restructure the government. The number of deputy prime ministers was reduced from eight to five.
The Central Asian country, rich in resources, has been taking a series of steps to reform its economy, including liberalization of the foreign exchange market, reduction of tax burdens and improvement of the investment climate for foreign investors since Shavkat Mirziyoyev came to power following the presidential elections in 2016.
