Russia starts natural gas deliveries to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan

By Emre Gurkan Abay

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Saturday that his country began natural gas deliveries to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan.

Putin, along with the presidents of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, respectively, attended a ceremony for the delivery.

Putin said the shipment will further strengthen cooperation between the three countries.

Tokayev said the delivery n is a historic development.

And Mirziyoyev indicated Uzbekistan wants to expand cooperation with Russia and Kazakhstan in the oil and gas sector.

Uzbekistan, which is among the natural gas-producing countries, decided to import natural gas from Russia for the first time because of the decline in production capacity.

It will import 7 million cubic meters of natural gas per day from Russia for two years, in line with an agreement signed with Russian energy company, Gazprom.