Lukoil could supply 10 bcm gas from Uzbekistan to China per year
MOSCOW. Oct 13 (Interfax) - Russia's Lukoil could supply China with around 10 billion cubic meters of gas produced in Uzbekistan per year, Lukoil chief Vagit Alekperov told reporters.
"That's gas output minus what we supply to the domestic market," Alekperov said. Lukoil is planning to produce 16 bcm-18 bcm of gas in Uzbekistan in 2016.
He said gas supplies under a long-term contract with Gazprom would still take place.
Alekperov, and the president of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Jiang Jiemin, signed an agreement to expand strategic cooperation on September 27 during a visit to Beijing by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
Alekperov has said that Lukoil planned to sign a memorandum with CNPC at the end of September setting out gas delivery volumes by year to the Chinese concern, including gas from Central Asia. "We are negotiating with the Uzbek government," he said. The gas deliveries might commence in 2014, he said.
Lukoil is involved in gas production projects in Uzbekistan, through which the gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to China passes.