Putin hints at new joint ventures with Kazakhstan ahead of his visit to Astana

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia and Kazakhstan have been collaborating in oil and gas sectors, but both countries are now jointly exploring new avenues for developing uranium and mining industries, as well as implementing nuclear fuel cycle and other projects.

“This is explained, among other things, by the infrastructure and routes of gas transmission and gas distribution systems in Russia and Central Asia established over many years and the high level of coordination both bilaterally and multilaterally,” Putin said in an interview with the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper late Tuesday.

Putin's interview came ahead of an official visit to Kazakhstan on Thursday, during which he will meet and hold talks with his counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, participate in the 19th Russia-Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum via videoconference, and sign a number of agreements.

Putin said geography provides Russia and Kazakhstan with significant competitive advantages in the energy sector, in which leading Russian companies such as Gazprom, Rosneft, Lukoil, and Tatneft, together with their Kazakh partners, are developing fields and establishing joint ventures to process energy resources.

Recalling that he and Tokayev participated in the ceremony marking the launch of Russian natural gas supplies to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan last month, Putin said this route will enable the most efficient use of existing gas transport networks and will contribute to bilateral and regional development.

“In the future, we believe it would be advisable to hold consultations with our colleagues from Turkmenistan. They traditionally participate in these markets. It would be in our common interests to include them in such cooperation,” the president added.

He said Russia is ready to assist in the gasification of Kazakhstan’s northern and eastern regions in accordance with the gas cooperation roadmap signed by the Kazakh government and Russian gas giant Gazprom.

Both countries are cooperating constructively in the oil sector, as well as developing uranium and mining industries and implementing nuclear fuel cycles and projects, the Russian president said.

If Kazakhstan decides to build its first nuclear power plant, Putin said Russia's state-owned nuclear energy company Rosatom is ready to develop a relevant project.

“This will boost the energy supply of the economy of Kazakhstan and give a strong impetus to the social and economic development of the country… On the whole, we expect that energy needs in Central Asia will only increase in the long run, and other interested countries will be able to join our cooperation,” he said.