"Following negotiations between a delegation led by Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and representatives of the republic [of Uzbekistan]’s government, no agreement was reached," Uzbek media reported on Saturday.

It was reported earlier that Miller met with Uzbek President Islam Karimov on Friday. Miller also attended negotiations with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Rustam Azimov and the management of the national holding company Uzbekneftegaz.

After Turkmenistan increased the price for its gas sold to Gazprom to US$130-US$150 from US$100 per 1,000 cubic meters, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan also announced intentions to increase the price for their gas.

It was reported in late November that Uzbekneftegaz planned to hold negotiations with Gazprom in December to increase the price for Uzbek gas from the current US$100. The Uzbek side declared its intention to switch from regional to world prices defined using a special price formula.

Uzbekneftegaz and Gazprom signed a strategic cooperation agreement back in 2002. The document stipulates long-term purchases of Uzbek gas by Gazprom in the period up to 2012, Gazprom’s participation in gas production projects in Uzbekistan on the basis of production-sharing agreements, and cooperation in developing gas transportation infrastructure in Uzbekistan and transporting Central Asian gas through
Uzbek territory.

Uzbekistan is the second-largest producer of natural gas in the CIS and one of the world’s top ten gas producers.