Uzbekistan is ready to sign commercial gas supply contracts with Russia, but has no intention of joining the gas union proposed by Moscow with Russia and Kazakhstan.
This was stated by the Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan Zhurabek Mirzamakhmudov, Reuters reports.
According to the minister, Uzbekistan ‘will never accept political conditions in exchange for gas.’ Moscow and Tashkent are conducting negotiations on the supply of Russian gas through neighboring Kazakhstan, but ‘this will be a technical contract’ and ‘does not mean an alliance’, Mirzamakhmudov emphasized.
As Reuters notes, against the background of the cold winter, Uzbekistan is experiencing a fuel shortage and was even forced to stop exporting 6 million cubic meters. m per day to China. The country’s authorities are negotiating with other countries (with which it is not specified) regarding the additional purchase of gas, electricity, coal and fuel oil. A ban on the export of liquefied gas is introduced in the country.
Previously, the initiative to create a gas union with Uzbekistan was discussed by the presidents of Russia and Kazakhstan – Vladimir Putin and Kasym-Jomart Tokayev. However, according to experts, neither Astana nor Tashkent are interested in it due to the threat of secondary sanctions.
On November 30, commenting on the proposal to create a triple gas alliance between Moscow, Astana and Tashkent, Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Roman Vasylenko emphasized that the country will not allow its territory to be used to evade sanctions.
The President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyeyev paid an official visit to France the other day. Many agreements were signed, including on French investments in the country.
As reported, Kazakhstan refused to violate sanctions for the sake of a gas alliance with Putin.
