Energy partnership: Russia and Uzbekistan expand gas cooperation

Several new infrastructure projects will double the volume of gas supplied from Russia to Uzbekistan, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He shared the update during a press briefing on April 23, following his official visit to Uzbekistan and meetings with the country’s leadership.

Lavrov emphasized the growing energy cooperation, highlighting that new infrastructure developments will allow Russia to double its gas exports to Uzbekistan. He also noted that Russian investments rank among the largest in Uzbekistan’s economy.

“We currently account for 18% of Uzbekistan’s total foreign trade turnover, but there is room for further growth,” Lavrov stated.

At present, Russia is involved in nearly 115 investment projects in Uzbekistan, totaling over 3.2 trillion rubles, according to Lavrov. During talks with Uzbekistan’s President and Foreign Minister, officials discussed economic, financial, and banking measures needed to successfully implement joint projects despite external challenges.

Lavrov also referenced the flagship nuclear energy collaboration between Moscow and Tashkent. A year ago, Russia and Uzbekistan signed an agreement to construct the country’s first nuclear power plant, which is actively progressing.

Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister, Yerlan Akkenjenov, announced plans to increase Russian gas deliveries to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan to 11 billion cubic meters annually by 2038.

In 2024, Kazakhstan tripled the transit volume of Russian gas to Uzbekistan. The amount is expected to rise by 30% in 2025.

According to Akkenjenov:

• In 2023, 1.28 billion cubic meters of Russian gas were transported through Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan.
• In 2024, this number rose to 5.6 billion cubic meters, with an annual target of 3.8 billion cubic meters for Uzbekistan.
• By 2025, transit will increase to 7.3 billion cubic meters and reach 11 billion cubic meters annually by 2038.

Russian gas shipments via Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan officially began on October 7, 2023. In November 2023, Gazprom and Kazakhstan’s government signed a strategic cooperation agreement. By June 2024, Gazprom and QazaqGaz finalized contracts for the transportation of Russian gas through Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan from 2025 to 2040.