QazaqGaz, Gazprom discussing establishment of transit route via East Kazakhstan to China

ALMATY. Feb 27 (Interfax) - Kazakh National Company JSC QazaqGaz and Gazprom are discussing the establishment of a transit route that will pass through the territory of East Kazakhstan, Arman Kasenov, deputy chairman of the QazaqGaz executive board for marketing, said at a meeting of the Samruk-Kazyna Public Council at the end of last week.

"On the issue of gas distribution across the east, we have proposed a new transit route through the territory of East Kazakhstan to [Russia's] Gazprom, which will cover a number of regions. It is under review," he said.

Kasenov noted that technical and economic calculations were already made.

"In principle, this is a version of the current Asian gas pipeline project, which ensures both the fulfillment of transit tasks and gas distribution to the domestic market. The proposal was made, set out in the Kazakh government roadmap, and is being reviewed by Gazprom. Gas distribution in the near future using Kazakh gas resources is not possible," Kasenov said.

As reported earlier, Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov ordered the Energy Ministry and Samruk-Kazyna Fund to take a final decision by May 1 on domestic gas supplies to the north and east regions of the country.

QazaqGaz and Gazprom are working together to study the option of building a Russia-Kazakhstan-China gas pipeline, Kazakh Energy Minister Bolat Akchulakov said earlier.