Russia, Uzbekistan agree new gas pipeline project

"An agreement has been reached on starting practical joint work on building a new gas pipeline system on Uzbek territory to ensure the growing export potential of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan itself," Putin said on a trip to the Uzbek capital Tashkent, quoted by RIA Novosti.

Putin gave no immediate details about the pipeline plan.

However Uzbek President Islam Karimov said a new pipeline was needed to handle extra supplies from Turkmenistan and would run alongside two Soviet-era pipelines that cross Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan before reaching Russia.

Russia, despite having its own huge gas reserves, continues to buy gas from Central Asia using the Soviet-era pipeline network in order to supplement its own supplies and meet foreign export demand.

"Considering the growth in gas deliveries it is necessary in parallel with Central Asia Central-1 and Central Asia Central-2 to build a new pipeline with a volume of 26-30 billion cubic meters" annually, Karimov said, referring to the two Soviet-era pipelines.

"We are in favor of cooperation and are ready to provide our territory. We are interested in this from a commercial perspective and from the point of view of the alliance obligations we have with Russia," Karimov added.

The announcement came as Russia is vying with China and the West for access to the vast energy resources of Central Asian states, particularly Turkmenistan.

Turkmenistan has committed itself to increasing exports to China, Russia and Europe, despite geographical and political obstacles.

Uzbekistan is developing new oil and gas projects with Russia’s Lukoil energy company.

Russian officials have been on a renewed drive to strengthen ties with Central Asian neighbours as Moscow comes under pressure from the West over its seizure of part of Georgia and recognition of two rebel regions there as independent.

Photo: AFP