Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – Today, a solemn ceremony was held dedicated to the start of supplies of Russian natural gas to consumers of the Republic of Uzbekistan through the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The event was attended by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Chairman of the Management Board of PJSC Gazprom Alexey Miller, the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Almasadam Satkaliev and the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Uzbekistan Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov.

Supplies of Russian gas are organized along a specially designated route based on the Central Asia - Center gas pipeline system. For this purpose, the gas pipelines “Central Asia - Center IV” and “Central Asia - Center V” are used on the territory of Kazakhstan.

“The launch of this gas transport corridor is of strategic importance. Firstly, this is an important factor in the energy security of our country and the entire region, reliable and guaranteed supplies of blue fuel. Secondly, additional volumes of gas for the uninterrupted supply of carbon to economic sectors and the population,” said President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

According to the head of Uzbekistan, the implementation of this project is a vivid example of successful mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the energy sector. This is a demonstration of cohesion and the ability to effectively respond to the challenges of the global economy, especially in ensuring energy security, Mirziyoyev emphasized.

“Uzbekistan will receive an additional source of energy supply, guaranteeing an uninterrupted supply of heat and electricity to households and socially significant facilities, Kazakhstan will solve the issue of gasification of the northern and eastern regions, Russia confirms its status as a reliable supplier of natural gas,” said Vladimir Putin.

To create a dedicated route, specialists from national gas companies of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, in a short time, with the assistance of Gazprom specialists, carried out diagnostic and repair work at gas transportation facilities and built a new gas infrastructure. On the territory of Russia, Gazprom carried out technical re-equipment of the border gas measuring station located in the Saratov region next to the Alexandrov Gai compressor station.

The result of extensive joint work was the modernization and improvement of technical parameters of the gas transportation systems of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, ensuring the possibility of supplying gas from Russia to Uzbekistan, and, as a result, increasing the reliability of gas supply and strengthening energy security in the region. The project is of utmost social importance for the residents of Uzbekistan. In the autumn-winter period, the republic will have a reliable source of resources to provide citizens with heat and electricity.

“Today we have an important event in the gas industry. The event is significant. Today we are giving new life to the Central Asia - Center gas pipeline system. For the first time, Russian gas will flow to Uzbekistan in reverse mode.

Contracts for gas supply and transit were signed in mid-June this year, and we immediately began intensive work. On a 1,760 km long section in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, repair and restoration work, technical re-equipment, reconstruction, and new construction work were carried out. And this complex of work was completed in the shortest possible time - 3.5 months. We will continue to develop our long-term mutually beneficial cooperation in the gas sector,” said Alexey Miller.

The Central Asia - Center gas pipeline system passes through the territories of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia.

In January 2023, Gazprom and the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan signed a Roadmap for cooperation in the gas industry.

In June 2023, as part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Gazprom and Uzbekistan signed a Contract for the supply of Russian gas to the Republic of Uzbekistan and a Roadmap for preparing the gas transportation system of Uzbekistan for the acceptance and transportation of Russian pipeline gas; Gazprom and JSC NK QazaqGaz signed an Agreement for the provision of services for the transportation of Russian natural gas through the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan for consumers of the Republic of Uzbekistan and an Action Plan for organizing work on the preparation of the Central Asia - Center gas pipelines for the transport of Russian gas to the Republic Uzbekistan.