In 2024, the volume of Russian gas transportation through Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan is set to almost triple compared to the previous year. According to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy, within the framework of a strategic cooperation agreement between Gazprom and the Kazakh government, the annual volume of Russian gas transportation to Uzbekistan will increase from 1.28 billion cubic meters in 2023 to 3.8 billion cubic meters in 2024.
On October 7, 2023, the presidents of the three countries launched the transit of Russian natural gas through Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan via the Central Asia-Center gas pipeline. As per the agreement between UzGasTrade and Gazprom, daily deliveries will amount to 9 million cubic meters, totaling 2.8 billion cubic meters per year, costing approximately $448 million, or $160 per 1000 cubic meters of gas.
From 2026, the planned deliveries are expected to increase from 3 billion cubic meters to 11 billion cubic meters per year. Uzbekistan authorities intend to modernize the main gas system for importing gas from the north for $500 million. Currently, Uzbekistan receives Russian gas in this direction, with plans to increase supplies from 9 to 32 million cubic meters of gas per day.
The World Bank warned in February that Central Asian countries may soon face a gas demand-supply imbalance. In 2023, Uzbekistan imported more gas than it exported, with a supply difference exceeding $165 million. Gazeta.uz analyzed the factors leading to this situation, despite the country's vast gas reserves.
