Turkmenistan to supply 2 bcm of gas to Uzbekistan under short-term contract, countries planning long-term deal

ASHGABAT. Aug 25 (Interfax) - Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have signed a short-term contract for the supply of up to 2 billion cubic meters of Turkmen natural gas per year, with plans to sign a long-term agreement in time, Uzbek Energy Minister Zhurabek Mirzamakhmudov, who is visiting Ashgabat, said.

The contract was signed by the state Turkmengaz concern and JSC Uzgastrade, Mirzamakhmudov said in an interview published on the website of the Turkmenistan State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company International Information Center.

"Thanks to personal backing from our presidents, today we held very constructive, productive meetings in Turkmenistan's cabinet of ministers, as a result of which we were able to sign a short-term contract to supply up to 2 billion cubic meters of Turkmen natural gas to Uzbekistan. This is only the beginning: we discussed broader prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation, and to work on a long-term contract for longer periods with an increase in supplies," he said.

Mirzamakhmudov also said the presidents of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan held a meeting in Ashgabat on August 4, during which agreements were reached on cooperation, including in the gas industry.

"This is cooperation in electricity supplies and its transit to third countries, as well as supplies oil and oil products, and joint projects, supplies of chemical products, in particular phosphate and nitrogen fertilizers, caustic soda and soda ash, as well as the modernization of JSC Maryazot, he said.