Uzbekistan buys Russian gas via Central Asia pipeline

Uzbek Energy Minister Gorabek Mirzamudov said plans were under way to supply Uzbekistan with gas from Russia via the Central Asian gas pipeline.

The minister added that the plan was initially to rely on the Bukhara-Ural gas pipeline as an alternative route, but that officials distracted their attention from that plan because of the rupture and damage to that line.

The Minister explained that Moscow and Tashkent were expected to reach an agreement on gas supply conditions after the end of the current phase of the parties’ assessment of the cost of establishing the necessary gas reverse flow pressure stations.

The delivery of Russian gas to Uzbekistan via the Central Asian gas pipeline provides a major boost to the country’s energy sector, which seeks to diversify gas supply and expand its infrastructure, as well as will represent a reliable source of energy that will help Tashkent to complete its energy projects and contribute to the country’s overall economic development.