Mirzamakhmudov’s statement
Even if Uzbekistan concludes with the Russian Federation gas agreement, this does not mean the conclusion of an alliance, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan Zhorabek Mirzamakhmudov. His words are reported by “Gazeta.uz”.
He added that the Russian Federation and Uzbekistan are negotiating the supply of Russian gas through neighboring Kazakhstan, but this contract will be of a purely technical nature. In addition, the official stressed that Tashkent is negotiating based on its national interests.
Here we are negotiating based on national interests in order to cooperate on the basis of a commercial contract, sale and purchase, and not through the transfer of their energy networks,” Mirzamakhmudov said.
He added that the authorities of the republic are not going to jeopardize “national interests, economy and independence” and will not agree to political conditions in exchange for gas.
According to him, the Uzbek side will buy gas from the Russian Federation only at a favorable price and within the contract. “Uzbekistan does not have a common border with Russia. Therefore, negotiations will be held on its delivery through neighboring Kazakhstan. It will be a technical contract,” he added.
Uzbekistan’s decision may not be final, suggested Igor Ananskikh, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Energy, in a conversation with Gazeta.
He pointed out that the key factor for Uzbekistan when deciding on a gas union should be the economy. “The world is changing. The main factor in decision-making now is the economy, the desire of politicians to make people in the country live better. If Uzbekistan abandons the triple gas union, Russia will be able to create a dual gas union with Kazakhstan. Why not,” the deputy suggested.
Ananskikh added that the Russian Federation is interested in selling gas to as many countries as possible, and therefore is working on various options for “gas unions.”
“So far, the largest sales markets for Russian gas are China and India. Uzbekistan could become a gas transit state. Ukraine, being such a transit state, lived in clover and received several billion cubic meters of gas per year only through transit on its territory,” summed up the deputy chairman of the Duma Committee.
Kazakhstan changed its mind
December 7, Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Roman Vasilenko said that although Astana does not support sanctions as a method of solving international problems, the republic observes the regime of restrictions.
According to Vasilenko, a government commission has been created in the country to study possible risks against the background of anti-Russian sanctions.
On November 28, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, during a meeting with the head of the government of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin, announced the idea of creating a “tripartite gas union” with the participation of Russia and Uzbekistan.
“Today, Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] said that we need to create some kind of tripartite alliance. He is going to call the President of Uzbekistan on this subject. We also need to delve into this topic,” Tokayev said.
“In principle, we are ready for this. Why not,” said the Kazakh president.
On November 29, Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, said that a gas union is necessary to coordinate gas supplies.
The project proposed by Putin involves the creation of a coordination mechanism and the development of gas consumption and transportation infrastructure for both domestic and foreign markets.
Gas position
According to Reuters, Uzbekistan due to strong winter cold feels the lack of fuel. The country was forced to stop exporting 6 million cubic meters of gas to China.
The country’s authorities decided to intensify negotiations with other states on additional purchases of natural gas, electricity, coal and fuel oil. In addition, Uzbekistan is introducing a ban on the export of liquefied natural gas for private entrepreneurs.
of the year, the use of vehicles running on liquefied gas was prohibited.
Two branches of the gas pipeline Central Asia – Center ( from Turkmenistan to Russia). It was built back in the USSR.
The Bukhara-Ural gas pipeline was also laid from Russia to Uzbekistan through the territory of Kazakhstan. The length of the pipeline is more than 4.5 thousand km.
the planned capacity of which is 2.3 billion cubic meters. m of gas per year.
The authorities of Kazakhstan expect a gas shortage by 2025, the country’s Energy Minister Bolat Akchulakov said in April 2022. According to him, from 2017 to 2021, gas consumption increased by 4.8 billion cubic meters from 13.8 to 18.6 billion cubic meters. The average annual increase in gas consumption is approximately 7%.