Kazakhstan signs contracts with Gazprom to transit Russian gas to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan

The official signing ceremony took place at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg. / Collage by Kursiv.media, photo editor: Arthur Aleskerov

Kazakhstan has signed contracts with Gazprom to allow the export of Russian gas to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan via Kazakhstan. The signing ceremony was held during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, according to Interfax Kazakhstan.

The two sides – Alexey Miller, the chair of the board of directors of Gazprom and Roman Sklyar, the first vice prime minister of Kazakhstan – have signed two documents: the first one was a plan aimed at boosting Russian gas export to Uzbekistan via the Central Asia – Center gas pipeline; the second was a contract on the export of Russian gas to northern and southern regions of Kyrgyzstan and supplies for the two Kyrgyzstani companies, Electric Stations and Bishkekteploenergo.

The context. In April 2024, Samruk-Kazyna revealed that QazaqGaz would sign two long-term contracts with Gazprom during the forum in St. Petersburg. One was for the transit of Russian gas to Uzbekistan and the other was for the transit of the gas to Kyrgyzstan.

Currently, Russian gas is transported to Uzbekistan under a two-year contract signed by Gazprom and QazaqGaz in the summer of 2023. Exports began in October 2023, with up to 3.3 billion cubic meters of gas expected to transit via the Central Asia – Center gas pipeline annually.

Samruk-Kazyna stated that the two companies planned to sign a long-term contract to gradually increase transit to 11 billion cubic meters per year, tripling the current volume. Although specific details were not provided, Gazprom mentioned that the contract might be for 15 years.

Regarding gas purchases for Kazakhstan, Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev said in November 2024 that the country had no plans to acquire Russian gas. However, Sklyar indicated that Kazakhstan might purchase about 3 billion cubic meters.

On June 6, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the Kremlin was ready to supply gas to North Kazakhstan, arguing that it is the most efficient way to gasify these regions in Kazakhstan.