Russia’s Gazprom Doubles Gas Supply to Central Asia
As reported by TASS, the head of Gazprom, Alexey Miller, announced that from January to August 2024, the company doubled its gas supply to Central Asia. According to Miller, the rapid economic and social development of the republics has opened up significant new opportunities for Gazprom, with gas supplies to Uzbekistan now at the highest possible level. "For example, the gas supply applications we submit for Uzbekistan are currently being fulfilled through the Central Asia Center gas pipeline at the maximum technical capacity, equivalent to the levels used during the winter season. This is the same level of supply we provided to Uzbekistan last winter when they experienced unusually cold weather,” stated Miller. Citing the fact that Kyrgyzstan’s gasification rate has doubled and continues to grow, he explained, “A lot of work has been done to reconstruct the gas transportation system of Kyrgyzstan. New gas transportation facilities have been built. But what is also important is Gazprom Kyrgyzstan has implemented socially significant projects in Kyrgyzstan, as is customary at Gazprom.” The Times of Central Asia previously reported that in June, Gazprom signed agreements for gas supplies to Kyrgyzstan and with Kazakhstan on the transit of Russian gas in the direction of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan for the period 2025-2040. To ensure transit, a specially designated route based on the Central Asia–Center gas pipeline system will be expanded and implemented. In June 2023, Uzbekistan signed a two-year gas purchase agreement with Gazprom. Daily supplies amount to 9 million cubic meters, and annual supplies amount to almost 2.8 billion cubic meters. Supplies under this agreement began on October 7, 2023.