Russian gas supplies to Uzbekistan planned from March 1

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Uzbek Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov said that the road map signed with Gazprom envusages the completion of the negotiation process on Russian gas supplies by 27 February, kun.uz reports. Deliveries are planned from 1 March 2023, the minister noted. 

Mr. Mirzamakhmudov and the head of Gazprom, Alexei Miller, signed a roadmap for cooperation in the gas industry on 24 January, Kommersant Publishing House reports.

Increasing the supply of Russian gas is being discussed by Uzbekistan, Russia and Kazakhstan, through whose territory the pumping will be carried out. Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov noted that the road map regulates gas supplies to Uzbekistan for domestic consumption. Subsequently, the minister noted, the commercial issue of gas supplies will be resolved. Deliveries are planned via the Central Asia-Center gas pipeline.

During the working meeting between Alexei Miller and Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, topical issues and prospects for cooperation were discussed, Gazprom reported. No other details were given. On January 18, Alexey Miller signed a similar road map with Roman Sklyar, First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan.

On 28 November, Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the creation of a "triple gas alliance" between Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. At the same time, Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov said that Uzbekistan intends to import gas on the basis of commercial contracts. He stressed that the country does not need to participate in "any kind of alliance or union" to buy gas. On 25 January, it became known that Gazprom could start delivering gas in transit through Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan, which is experiencing a shortage, via the Central Asia-Center pipeline. Tashkent assures that there is no talk of transferring the Uzbek gas transmission system to Gazprom.