Reuters: Uzbekistan abandoned the idea of a gas union with Russia and Kazakhstan
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Uzbekistan will never agree to political terms in exchange for gas, and an agreement with Russia on gas supplies, if it is concluded, does not yet mean an alliance. This was stated by the Minister of Energy of the Republic, Deputy Prime Minister Zhurabek Mirzamakhmudov, transmits Reuters.
“Even if a gas agreement is concluded with Russia, this does not mean an alliance… If we import gas from another country, we cooperate only on the basis of a commercial sales contract. We will never agree to political terms in exchange for gas,” he said.
Negotiations are now underway to supply Russian gas via a pipeline through Kazakhstan, but this is a “technical contract” and not an alliance, the Deputy Prime Minister added.
At the same time, Uzbekistan is now experiencing a shortage of gas amid a sharp cooling, the republic was forced to stop exporting 6 million cubic meters. m per day to China, said Mirzamakhmudov. In total, the republic produces about 52 billion cubic meters. m of gas per year, imports 4 billion cubic meters. m, and exports – 2.7 billion cubic meters. m.
On November 28, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev announced the proposal made by Vladimir Putin during negotiations in Moscow to create an alliance between Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan “to resolve issues in the gas sector.” On November 29, Tokayev’s spokesman Ruslan Zheldibay specified that the talk was about the creation of a “tripartite gas union” with the aim of “coordinating actions in the transportation of Russian gas through the territories of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.”
Later, the Presidents of Russia and Uzbekistan Vladimir Putin and Shavkat Mirziyoyev had a telephone conversation, during which they discussed issues of trade and economic cooperation. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, in turn, spokethat Uzbekistan is interested in the gas union project with Russia and Kazakhstan, since the republic has needs for additional gas supplies from the Russian Federation.
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