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Russia, Kazakhstan Deepen Energy Ties Through Gas Cooperation

By Vusala Abbasova January 22, 2025

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Energy collaboration between the two countries has grown steadily over the years, with seven contracts signed in 2024 and five in 2023.

The development of energy cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan took center stage in discussions between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, and Roman Sklyar, Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Prime Minister. 

The meeting, held in St. Petersburg on Tuesday, marked the first of the year between the two nations’ representatives.

“The meeting participants discussed matters on further developing collaboration in the gas industry,” Interfax reported, citing a Gazprom press release.

Energy collaboration between the two countries has grown steadily over the years, with seven contracts signed in 2024 and five in 2023. One significant milestone was the initiation of Russian natural gas supplies to Uzbekistan through Kazakhstan in October 2023. These supplies operate in reverse mode along the Central Asia-Center gas pipeline system.

Kazakhstan and Gazprom signed a strategic cooperation agreement in 2023. This accord aims to advance gas supply, transportation, processing, and exploration projects.

Key projects are already in the pipeline, including a proposed gas infrastructure that would handle 45 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas annually. Of this, 10 bcm will be used to supply northeast part of Kazakhstan, while the remaining 35 bcm will be exported to China.

In November 2024, Gazprom and Kazakhstan signed another agreement defining the terms for processing and selling gas from the Karachaganak field in 2025-2026.

The Central Asia-Center gas pipeline system, which includes four separate lines crossing Kazakhstan and extending into neighboring countries, has seen crucial modifications. Gazprom reversed the operation of this system over three months, ensuring more reliable gas supplies to Central Asian countries.

Gazprom is actively exploring the feasibility of delivering Russian gas to the east and northeast regions of Kazakhstan.

The oil and gas industries are the main pillars for Moscow and Astana, as both Russia and Kazakhstan are flush with hydrocarbons. The two post-Soviet countries have maintained strong partnerships in the energy sector through already existing close economic, technological, and transportation initiatives.

The use of gas as a cleaner type of fuel is among the most important directions set by Kazakhstan in protecting the environment, the process of transitioning to carbon neutrality, and achieving a zero balance of emissions. To increase the investment attractiveness of the gas industry in Kazakhstan, a number of systemic measures are being taken and new market approaches to gas pricing have been identified.