Putin, Mirziyoyev and Tokayev launched Russian gas supplies to Uzbekistan

Russian President Vladimir Putin, with his colleagues from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, launched the supply of Russian gas to these two countries. The heads of state met at Putin’s residence in Novo-Ogarevo.

“The implementation of this project will have obvious benefits for all three states. Uzbekistan will receive an additional source of energy supply, which will ensure uninterrupted supply of heat and electricity to households and socially significant facilities. Kazakhstan will be able to solve the issue of gasification of its northern and eastern regions,” Putin said.

The Russian leader emphasized that the country is open to international cooperation in the energy sector. According to him, the Russian Federation is aimed at meeting the fuel needs of partners from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, as well as from other interested states.

According to Putin, Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan can jointly solve the most ambitious tasks, and the implementation of a trilateral project for gas supplies to Uzbekistan confirms this. The Russian President said that he is confident in the successful development of the strategic partnership between states. He expects the cooperation to bring tangible results to their peoples.

Mirziyoyev said at the meeting that Uzbekistan is ready to cooperate in the oil and gas sector with Russia in the long term. The republic’s interaction with Russia in the field of energy security has reached a new level, the Uzbek leader emphasized.

The presidents listened to a report from Gazprom head Alexei Miller, who joined the ceremony from the corporation’s central office in St. Petersburg. He noted that the launch of supplies is a significant event for the entire gas industry. Miller emphasized that the states signed contracts on trilateral cooperation in June, and the parties completed the necessary preparatory work in 3.5 months.

“We will continue to develop our long-term mutually beneficial cooperation in the gas sector,” Miller emphasized.

According to him, gas supply has already started. The pressure in the line corresponds to the specified parameters, all systems are working properly.

Putin congratulated Tokayev and Mirziyoyev on the successful launch, and the leaders shook hands.

Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliev said in August that the republic is ready to provide transit from 1.5 to 10 billion cubic meters. m of Russian gas to Uzbekistan annually. The volume of supplies may increase depending on the readiness of the Uzbek energy infrastructure and Russia’s decision.

Russia signed an agreement with the Kazakh company QazaqGaz as part of SPIEF-2022 on June 16. As Putin previously stated, Russia has never before supplied gas to the countries of Central Asia.