Why is this important
The increase in supplies underscores the strengthening energy cooperation between the Russian Federation and Central Asia, and also reflects the growing demand for energy resources amid the region’s accelerated economic growth.
What happened
- According to Miller, combined gas supplies to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan increased by 15% in 8 months.
- This is due to growing demand: according to Gazprom’s estimates, the economies of the three countries will grow by 60% in the next 5-6 years.
- Among the factors is the “Power of Siberia-2” project, which creates an infrastructural basis for increasing supplies to the CA countries.
- In June alone, Uzbekistan imported a record $286.3 million worth of gas.
- At the same time, according to the results of January-August, the total import of gas to Uzbekistan from Russia and Turkmenistan decreased by 27.9% to $885.9 million — probably due to the decrease in purchases in the first quarter.
Context
Gazprom has been supplying gas to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan since 2023 via the return route from Russia through Kazakhstan. The “Power of Siberia-2” project envisions the supply of up to 50 billion cubic meters of gas to China, but it could increase the transit role of Central Asian countries.
Uzbekistan is intensifying gas cooperation with the Russian Federation amid energy shortages and domestic fuel market reforms.
