Astana: Tokayev and Putin Discuss Creation of ‘Gas Union’ Between Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
/ Go to the mediabankRussian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev issue a joint statement following their meeting in Moscow, November 28, 2022.
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ALMATY (Sputnik) – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the creation of a “tripartite gas union” between Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan at the Moscow meeting, Tokayev’s spokesman Ruslan Zheldibay said on Tuesday.The two presidents meet on Monday as the Kazakh leader was on a visit to the Russian capital.
"During the talks in the Kremlin between the presidents of Kazakhstan and Russia, they talked about creating a 'tripartite gas union' consisting of Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan in order to coordinate actions in the transportation of Russian gas through the territories of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan," Zheldibay wrote on social media.
Commenting on the idea of a “tripartite gas union” later in the day, the Kremlin noted that such an alliance necessitates the establishment of a coordinating mechanism at the first stage, possibly with a certain legal entity.
"What President Putin has in mind is the creation of a coordination mechanism at the first stage. Maybe, of course, this is yet to be discussed, with a certain legal entity. For cooperation between these three countries and for the development of infrastructure, then for foreign markets," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
The official noted that the implementation of the project requires joint actions, discussions and coordination between the three countries.
"Both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are developing their economies quite rapidly, and their domestic gas needs are growing, and besides, both countries also trade on foreign markets. Russia also trades on foreign markets, so it requires some synchronization. Moreover, there is another important element. Russia and Kazakhstan, as a partnership in the EAEU [Eurasian Economic Union], also have certain plans for the development of this industry. And in the future, there are plans to create common energy markets," Peskov said.
The Kremlin spokesman recalled another important element the fact that the needs of northern Kazakhstan are traditionally provided with gas from Russia.
"And we, in turn, are developing a new province in eastern Siberia. This is both for export and for their regions," he added.
