Ministry of Energy comments on reports about gas imports from Turkmenistan

Representatives of the Ministry of Energy made an appeal on the current situation and for the first time officially commented on reports about gas imports from Turkmenistan.

It should be recalled that on December 13, the head of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedow, received the head of the presidential administration of Uzbekistan, Sardor Umurzakov.

According to a Kun.uz source, during the visit an agreement was reached and a contract was signed to supply Uzbekistan with an additional 20 million cubic meters of gas per day (a total of 1.5 billion cubic meters in 3 months). 

“If this project is implemented, then the gas problem that arose in Uzbekistan in the winter can be completely resolved,” the source said.

At the same time, gas supply in the regions did not improve, and CNG filling stations were closed. 

Later it became known that the President of Turkmenistan once again reprimanded the head of the state concern Türkmengaz with a final warning. According to media reports, since January 12, Turkmenistan has suspended gas exports to Uzbekistan.

Today, January 16, the Ministry of Energy for the first time officially commented on reports of gas imports from Turkmenistan. 

According to them, the demand for electricity and natural gas increased due to a sharp drop in temperature in the country, to meet this demand, the volume of imports of natural gas and electricity was increased to the maximum level based on urgent measures and agreements, 10% of the daily consumption of natural gas and 8% of electricity is provided by additional imports.

“Although the capacity of gas pipelines and main electrical networks today is sufficient to ensure maximum demand, there are problems in providing consumers with energy resources due to insufficient resources. In particular, due to abnormal cold weather, the emergency that occurred on January 12 at the natural gas fields of the neighboring country led to a complete halt in natural gas imports and a reduction in electricity imports by 20%,” the report reads.

According to the Kun.uz source, the resumption of gas supplies from Turkmenistan is expected in the near future.