Uzbekistan has secured an agreement to increase natural gas imports from Turkmenistan, following discussions between Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Chairman of Turkmenistan’s Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council). The exact volume of additional gas and pricing details remain undisclosed.
Turkmenistan’s Natural Gas Potential
Turkmenistan holds the fourth-largest natural gas reserves globally, estimated at 17.5 trillion cubic meters. This resource base positions the country as a significant potential supplier to global markets. Currently, Turkmenistan exports gas primarily to China, which purchases around 35bn cubic meters (bcm) annually, and smaller amounts to Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. A recent agreement with Iraq for 10 bcm adds to the country’s export portfolio, although logistical challenges persist, news agency the Times of Central Asia, reports.
However, Turkmenistan faces limited market access. The expiration of its contract with Russia in mid-2024, which involved exporting up to 5.5 bcm annually, further reduced its customer base. This development opens opportunities for Uzbekistan to access more Turkmen gas.
Uzbekistan’s Growing Gas Needs
Uzbekistan’s domestic gas production has been declining, creating an urgent need for increased imports. While the country produced 51.7 bcm in 2022, output dropped to 46.7 bcm in 2023 and is expected to fall further in 2024.
To address the shortfall, Uzbekistan signed its first gas import agreement with Turkmenistan in December 2022 for 1.5 bcm annually, later increased to 2 bcm. Additional imports from Turkmenistan are likely to fill part of Uzbekistan’s growing demand. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan has also sought Russian gas, signing agreements to import up to 2.8 bcm annually in 2023, with plans to increase this to 11 bcm by 2026.
Beyond gas, discussions between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan also focused on water resource management. Both nations rely on the Amu Darya river, a key transboundary water source, for agricultural and industrial purposes. However, regional water availability is increasingly strained by climate change, drought, and infrastructure projects like Afghanistan’s construction of a canal on the Amu Darya.
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