Russia, Uzbekistan yet to sign expanded gas transit deal - Kazakh minister

ASTANA. April 23 (Interfax) - Russia and Uzbekistan have not yet signed a contract to increase natural gas supplies through Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry said.

Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov told a government meeting that while volumes were outlined in a strategic cooperation agreement between Gazprom and Kazakhstan, "no contract for increased volumes between Russia and Uzbekistan has been signed to date."

Akkenzhenov said that since the launch of Russian gas transit to Uzbekistan through Kazakhstan in 2023, volumes had grown from 1.28 billion cubic meters that year to 5.6 bcm in 2024. "Shipments are planned to increase to 7.3 bcm this year, with further expansion expected to reach 11 bcm annually by 2038," he said.

The Central Asian gas transit route began operations in October 2023, with regional agreements signed to expand strategic cooperation.

The initial projection for Russian gas transit volumes to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan in 2024 stood at 3.8 bcm.