Gas supply to Kyrgyzstan should come to 400 mcm in 2013
BISHKEK. Dec 29 (Interfax) - Kyrgyzstan has reached agreements with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for gas supply to the former country next year at 400 million cubic meters in total, OJSC KyrgyzGas told Interfax on Saturday.
Uztransgaz plans to deliver 100 mcm to southern Kyrgyzstan while KazTransGaz will deliver 300 mcm to the country's north, thereby covering 90% of Kyrgyzstan's demand next year.
Contracts still have not been signed and negotiations on the price are now underway. The contracts should be signed after the New Year's holiday.
Kyrgyzstan insists on keeping current prices into next year.
Kyrgyzstan current buys gas from Uztransgaz at $290 per 1,000 cubic meters, and from KazTransGaz at $224 per 1,000 cubic meters.
Uztransgaz is part of Uzbekneftegaz. The company's system currently covers 13,274 kilometers of trunk pipelines, 24 gas compressor stations and 310 gas distribution stations, as well as underground gas storage facilities with 4.5 billion cubic meters in capacity.
KazTransGaz, which is part of KazMunaiGaz, was formed in 2000 for systematizing operations in oil and gas sector, as well as carrying out corporate management of exploration and production assets.
At present, 7% of the shares in Kyrgyzgaz are under the ownership of Kyrgyzstan's Fund for Managing State Property. The country's Social Fund owns 5%.