Russian gas supplies to Kazakhstan could triple to 11 bcm in 2026 - dep minister

TYUMEN. Sept 16 (Interfax) - Russian gas supplies to Kazakhstan could increase to 11 billion cubic meters in 2026, Kazakh Deputy Energy Minister Kairkhan Tutkyshbaev said.

"Volumes are being discussed. This year, we had minor technical glitches at our major field. We received 4 bcm last year and it'll be 11 bcm this year. We're discussing approximately 9 bcm for next year," Tutkyshbaev told reporters on the sidelines of the Tyumen Industrial and Energy Forum (TNF).

"There's full understanding. The decision makers are keeping this issue under close control. We have full understanding with Gazprom . We've made very good progress. I flew in from St. Petersburg the day before yesterday. We signed an addendum to the contract. I think we'll be discussing a long-term contract by the end of the year. Russia remains a strategic partner for us. We simply have no problems with gas," he said.

Gazprom said last week that its CEO Alexei Miller met with Roman Sklyar, head of the Kazakh presidential administration. Also, Gazprom has boosted gas supplies to Central Asian countries nearly 70% so far this year, Miller said on September 4. "We've increased our supplies to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan nearly 70%," he said.

Regarding the prospects for Russian gas transit through Kazakhstan, Tutkyshbaev said Astana would welcome Russian gas supplies to China via its territory. "The first question is how the gas pipeline will be routed. We'd welcome it if it goes via our territory, because we can resolve the issues of gasification in our northeastern regions. It's now being described as 'Power of Baikal': either via Mongolia or Kazakhstan," he said.

Tutkyshbaev also said cooperation through re-export was being discussed. "The second issue is re-export. Our pricing policy is transparent. We've worked on this with Gazprom. So there's full understanding there, too," he said.

Kazakhstan's government signed a strategic partnership agreement with Gazprom in 2023, covering gas supply, transportation, processing, exploration and production. The parties are discussing a pipeline project to transport 45 billion cubic meters of gas annually, of which 10 bcm would be supplied to Kazakhstan's northeastern regions and 35 bcm would be exported to China.

Gazprom supplies consumers in the West Kazakhstan, Kostanai and Aktobe regions, with deliveries increasing in line with the republic's growing demand. Efforts are also underway to extend gas supply to northern Kazakhstan.