Russia begins natural gas deliveries to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan

Russia today began natural gas deliveries to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan. Ceremonies were held in Moscow and elsewhere to mark the occasion, attended by the presidents of all three countries and broadcast on state television.

This is the first time that Uzbekistan, itself a producer and exporter, has imported gas from Russia. Under a two-year agreement signed with Russian state gas company Gazprom, Uzbekistan will import nine million cubic metres of gas per day. The daily volume is equivalent to around 2.8 billion cubic metres a year. The imports are intended to help cover gas shortages during the cold season.

„Russia confirms its status as a reliable gas supplier and is open to cooperation in this area,“ Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the ceremony.

Russia’s revenues from energy sales have been reduced by Western sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine, including price caps and an embargo on seaborne oil exports. Gas deliveries then fell sharply after the Nord Stream pipeline to Europe was shut down following sabotage in 2022, Reuters reported.