Gazprom's Miller discusses gas transit to Uzbekistan with Kazakh dep PM

MOSCOW. June 29 (Interfax) - Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller discussed gas transit to Uzbekistan at meeting with Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, the Russian gas giant said.

The two "praised the development of cooperation" and discussed "key issues and prospects for interaction, including in gas transportation and supply," it said.

Gazprom Kazakhstan's Qazaqgaz signed a contract during the St. Petersburg Economic Forum on the transport of Russian natural gas for Uzbekistan.

In addition, Uzbekistan signed an agreement with Russia's Gazprom Export to buy 9 million cubic meters of gas per day starting on October 1 or nearly 2.8 billion cubic meters per year over a period of two years. It said an approved road map provided for the construction of new gas metering stations on Uzbekistan's territory for gas supplies in reverse mode for transit through Kazakhstan via the Central Asia-Center pipeline.

Uzbekistan itself plans to replace three units of gas pumping equipment and to overhaul and renovate 11 units of gas pumping equipment, as well build 22 km of new trunk lines and repair 56 km of gas pipelines.