Gazprom and Qazaqgaz sign contract on transport of Russian gas for Uzbekistan

MOSCOW. June 16 (Interfax) - Gazprom and Qazaqgaz signed a contract during the St. Petersburg Economic Forum on the transport of Russian natural gas for Uzbekistan, the Kazakhstan Energy Ministry said.

Kazakh representatives also discussed closer cooperation in the field of gas supplies, processing and transportation with the Russian side, the ministry said.

Kazakh Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev said in early June that Astana was interested in the transit of Russian gas to Uzbekistan and intended to prepare the necessary infrastructure for this. "Moreover, it is a fact that in the autumn-winter season next year this infrastructure will be ready. We, as Kazakhstan, are interested in this transit, in obtaining funds for transit, and in general, increasing the reliability of energy supplies to the Central Asian region," - he said.