Kazakhstan sees higher demand for Russian gas in Uzbekistan

ASTANA. March 27 (Interfax) - Demand for Russia gas in Uzbekistan is increasing, Kazakh Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev said.

"[The volume of Russian gas transit through Kazakhstan] depends on the volumes requested by our Uzbek colleagues. Their demand now is slightly above the original plan; we have noted an increase in demand for Russian gas in Uzbekistan. I cannot provide any statistics at the moment," Satkaliyev told journalists on the sidelines of a Wednesday meeting of the Majilis, the lower chamber of Kazakhstan's government.

Gazprom signed a contract with Kazakhstan's QazaqGaz in June 2023 for the transportation of Russian natural gas through Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan. A ceremony launching Russian gas supplies to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan took place in October last year. Russian gas is shipped to Uzbekistan in reverse mode via Kazakhstan through a dedicated route in the Central Asia-Center gas pipeline system.

Russian gas supplies to Uzbekistan through Kazakhstan are projected to surge nearly fourfold by 2026, reaching 11 billion cubic meters per year, the Kazakh Ministry of Energy said in early March of this year.