Seoul has already scored a major success in its energy diplomacy, as during Uzbek President Islam Karimov's February state visit to South Korea, a 50-50 joint venture agreement worth a potential $1.8 billion was concluded between state-controlled energy company Uzbekneftegaz and a South Korean energy consortium, whose members include KOGAS, Lotte Daesan Petrochemical Corp., LG Corp., STX Energy Co. and SK Gas Co. to develop Uzbekistan's Surgil natural gas field.