Shulginov: Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan continue to discuss the “gas union”

Discussions on creating a “gas union” between Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are continuing, Russian Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov told reporters on the sidelines of the Eurasian Congress.

“The discussion of this initiative continues on bilateral tracks. The work is being carried out, among other things, on the basis of two road maps signed by Gazprom with partners from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan at the beginning of the year,” leads his words TASS.

At the end of November 2022, the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev, announced the proposal made by Vladimir Putin during negotiations in Moscow to create a union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan “to resolve issues in the gas sector.” Tokayev’s spokesman 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.”

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, in turn, said that Russia discusses with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the creation of a “gas union” both for gas supplies between countries and for export, including to China. The idea of ​​a “gas union” has not been continued yet.

On June 7, Iranian Oil Minister Javad Ouji announced Tehran’s intention to create a gas hub in the Asaluye industrial area of ​​the Bushehr province on the coast of the Persian Gulf and connect Russia, Qatar and Turkmenistan to this work.