Afghanistan explores gas transit deal with Russia

Head of the Russian Business Centre in Afghanistan Rustam Khabibullin has said that Afghanistan is considering the possibility of entering into an agreement with Russia for the transit of 50 million cubic metres of liquefied natural gas (LNG) through its territory.

"At the upcoming KazanForum 2025, Afghanistan intends to sign a contract for the transit of 50 million cubic metres of Russian gas through its territory," he said, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media. 

The gas is expected to be transited through Afghanistan to Southeast Asian countries through gas carriers.

He also clarified that trial shipments have already been made. In previous years, major transit contracts were signed at the KazanForum, Khabibullin added. 

In 2023, a contract was signed for the annual transit of 50 million tons of Russian oil products, and in 2024, a deal was made for the transportation of 2 million tons of Russian wheat and flour through Afghan territory. Khabibullin stated in May 2024 that the trade turnover between Russia and Afghanistan reached $1 billion. Oil, flour, wheat, and dairy products were mainly supplied.

In late 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov said that Moscow had secured agreements with the Taliban’s interim government for the transportation of energy resources and wheat through Afghanistan. 

"These agreements are in place, and discussions are ongoing regarding the volume of these transfers," Kabulov said.

The Taliban view these agreements as crucial for enhancing Afghanistan's regional trade position, although substantial logistical and geopolitical hurdles continue posing challenges to their realization.

By Naila Huseynova