Uzbekistan won’t take part in a gas alliance with Russia and Kazakhstan

Uzbekistani Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamahmudov stated that the country is going to buy gas from its neighbors directly and doesn’t need any alliances or unions, Gazeta.uz reported.

«We are negotiating direct commercial contracts and won’t lease our power grid system,» the official highlighted.

Uzbekistan has been struggling with a shortage of natural gas and needs to buy an additional amount of this fuel from abroad. The country’s authorities even decided to ban exports of liquefied natural gas.

Moreover, the country is planning to increase its import of gasoline, diesel and relevant oil products. The government has also suspended the import and retail sale excise duties for the most affordable type of gasoline (AI-80).

In November, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. Among other issues, they discussed the idea of a «gas alliance» with Uzbekistan in order to better coordinate the transportation of Russian gas through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. At the time, the two presidents said that experts from the three states could find a win-win solution.