Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 21 May, the Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov and the Chairman of the Management Board of Gazprom PJSC Alexey Miller held negotiations.

The parties noted that Gazprom reliably supplies gas to Uzbekistan, including during periods of peak demand, along a specially designated route based on the Central Asia - Center gas pipeline system.

During the meeting, the parties reviewed the progress of implementation of the strategic memorandum on cooperation in the energy complex.

Uzbekistan and Russia’s Gazprom signed a two-year contract for the supply of natural gas. Under the contract, Gazprom will supply 9 million cubic meters of gas per day, or about 2.8 billion cubic meters per year.

In October 2023, Gazprom began gas supplies to Uzbekistan through the territory of Kazakhstan. Uzbekistan buys gas from Russia to cover part of the deficit of blue fuel in the autumn-winter period.

At the same time, Uzbekistan is showing interest in increasing imports of natural gas from Russia and intends to develop cooperation in this area on a long-term basis.

Uzbekistan plans to modernize the main gas pipeline system to increase the volume of natural gas imports in the northern direction in 2024-2030

The cost of the first stage of the program is US$500 million. In the first quarter of 2024, it is planned to use US$13.7 million.

As a result of modernization, Uzbekistan will be able to import up to 32 million cubic meters of gas per day in the northern direction.

According to the agreement on strategic cooperation between PJSC Gazprom and the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the annual volume of Russian gas transportation to Uzbekistan will be increased from 1.28 billion cubic meters in 2023 to 3.8 billion cubic meters in 2024.