Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – Russia is discussing the growth of gas supplies to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, gas supplies from Russia to China could reach 100 billion cubic meters per year, TASS reports.

Russia is discussing the growth of gas supplies for the domestic markets of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan against the backdrop of an increase in their consumption of this type of fuel, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said in an interview with TASS.

“We are also discussing with our partners from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan the growth of gas supplies to their domestic market, as their consumption is increasing,” he said.

In addition, Novak said that Russia agreed with Azerbaijan to increase gas supplies for its domestic consumption, and in the future, it may discuss swap supplies.

Presidents of Russia and Kazakhstan Vladimir Putin and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discussed the creation of a "tripartite gas union" with Uzbekistan during a meeting in the Kremlin on 28 November. 

Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov explained that at the first stage it is about creating a coordination mechanism at the initiative of the Russian President. Later it became known that we are talking about cooperation in the processing and supply of gas, including to new export destinations. To do this, it is necessary to develop the gas infrastructure of the three countries, including the creation of a more extensive gas network in Russia worth 260 billion rubles.