Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- From 2026, Uzbekistan plans to increase imports of Russian gas through Kazakhstan almost fourfold - from 3 to 11 billion cubic meters of gas per year. This is stated in materials distributed to the board of the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan.

In this regard, the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan plans to increase the volume of transit of Russian gas to Uzbekistan through the territory of Kazakhstan.

It should be noted that the transit of gas supplies was launched in October 2023.

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.