Uzbekistan is set to construct an underground gas storage facility in partnership with China, the Ministry of Energy announced following a high-level meeting.
During talks between Uzbekistan's Minister of Energy, Jurabek Mirzamahmudov, and Dai Houliang, Chairman of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), both sides discussed expanding energy cooperation and launching new strategic projects.
The discussions covered several key areas, including the construction of the Central Asia–China gas pipeline, development of gas condensate fields in the Bukhara region, establishment of the underground gas storage facility, commissioning of new energy fields, and training programs for qualified specialists in Uzbekistan's oil and gas sector.
The planned storage facility is expected to play a critical role in ensuring stable gas supplies and balancing seasonal demand in Uzbekistan and the wider region.
As one of the largest energy consumers globally, China views Central Asia as a priority region for its foreign energy policy. The Central Asia–China gas pipeline, consisting of three operational lines, already delivers billions of cubic meters of natural gas from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan to China each year. Additionally, the Kazakhstan–China oil pipeline further strengthens Beijing's energy security network.
Long-standing Uzbekistan–China Partnership
Uzbekistan and China share a deep-rooted relationship that dates back to the Great Silk Road era, when trade routes connected Samarkand and Bukhara with the Chinese heartland.
China officially recognized Uzbekistan's independence on December 27, 1991, and diplomatic relations were established on January 2, 1992.
Over the past thirty years, relations between the two countries have steadily advanced—from a strategic partnership established in 2012 to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016, and, most recently, to a comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era in 2022.
