Kazakhstan yet to receive proposals on creation of gas union with Russia, Uzbekistan

Kazakhstan has not yet received formal proposals to create a "tripartite gas union" with Russia and Uzbekistan, Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov said.

He clarified that Kazakhstan is now holding talks with Russia on cooperation in the gas sector, Kommersant reports.

“At the moment, we have not received official proposals for the creation of a “tripartite gas union”. Accordingly, when we receive it, then we will consider it,” Smailov told reporters at a briefing this week.

He said another round of negotiations with Gazprom is also planned in the near future.

“All these relations will be built on a commercial and mutually beneficial basis,” Smailov noted.

The creation of the union was put into discussion in November 2022 at a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Kazakhstan, Vladimir Putin and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. On December 8, Uzbek Energy Minister Zhurabek Mirzamakhmudov said that Tashkent plans to import gas on the basis of commercial contracts, for which participation "in some kind of alliance or union" is not required.