Kazakhstan expects to complete negotiations with Russia on gasification of north and east of country by end 2024

ASTANA. April 3 (Interfax) - Negotiations with Russia on the gasification of the north and east of Kazakhstan may be completed before the end of this year, Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev said following a meeting of the Majilis on Wednesday.

The authorities are considering several gasification options for the north and east of the country. The first is the construction of the second and third stages of the Saryarka gas pipeline. The second option would send in Russian gas by building a gas pipeline from Russia to China through Kazakh territory. It is assumed that Kazakhstan portion of the gas pipeline would run along the Kostanay - Astana - Pavlodar - Semipalatinsk (Semey) - Ust-Kamenogorsk route. Negotiations are underway between QazaqGaz and Gazprom . The project is currently at the feasibility study stage.

The Kazakh energy minister said in June 2023 that gasification of the country's east using internal resources would be possible only after 2027-2028, and gas imports from Russia are necessary in the near-term. Russian gas will not be cheap, he said.

The Government of Kazakhstan and Gazprom signed an agreement on strategic cooperation on November 1, 2023 aimed at developing cooperation in the fields of supply, transportation and processing of natural gas, as well as geological exploration and production.

Earlier, Deputy Minister of Energy Alibek Zhamauov said that the government of Kazakhstan was planning to decide on a plan for gasification of the north and east of the republic by the end of 2023.