The ceremony was held to mark the start of Russian natural gas supplies to the consumers of the Republic of Uzbekistan across the
Republic of Kazakhstan.
Taking part in the event were Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Shavkat Mirziyoev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, Almasadam Satkaliyev, Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, Minister of Energy of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The supplies of Russian gas are arranged via a dedicated route that uses the Central Asia – Center gas trunkline system. To that end, the Central Asia – Center 4 and Central Asia – Center 5 gas pipelines have been employed in the territory of Kazakhstan.
In order to create the dedicated route, the specialists of the national gas companies of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan promptly, with support from the specialists of Gazprom, performed diagnostics and repair and restoration works at the relevant gas transmission facilities and built new gas infrastructure. In the territory of Russia, Gazprom carried out the technical upgrade of a gas metering station located near the state border in the Saratov Region, in the vicinity of the Alexandrov Gay compressor station.
As a result of the extensive joint work performed, Kazakhstan's and Uzbekistan's gas transmission systems have been modernized and have received an upgrade of their technical parameters; the possibility of Russian gas supplies to Uzbekistan has been ensured; and, accordingly, the reliability of gas supplies has been increased and the energy security has been strengthened in the region. The project is of utmost social importance for the residents of Uzbekistan. In the autumn/winter period, the republic will have a reliable source of supplies to provide its citizens with heat and electric power.
“Today, we are celebrating an event that is important for the gas sector. A landmark event. Today, we give a new life to the Central Asia – Center gas trunkline system. For the first time ever, Russian gas will be supplied to Uzbekistan in reverse flow.
As soon as the contracts for the supply and transit of gas were signed in the middle of June this year, we commenced intensive work. Repair and restoration activities, technical upgrade, reconstruction and new construction works were performed at the section of 1,760 kilometers in length in the territory of Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Those works were completed within the shortest possible time, in just 3.5 months.
And we will further develop our long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation in the gas sector,” said Alexey Miller.