Russian President Vladimir Putin gives green light to Uzbekistan gas imports
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday gave the green light to the import of Russian natural gas into Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan, a move that comes amid Western sanctions on Russia's energy sector.
"Permission granted," Putin said at a ceremony in Moscow, flanked by his Uzbek and Kazakh counterparts, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Putin said the project would provide Uzbekistan, which is also rich in hydrocarbons, with an "additional source of energy," while Kazakhstan would be able to resolve gas supply issues in its northern and eastern regions.
The announcement comes as Russia's gas exports have been hit hard by Western sanctions, with shipments down 25.1% in 2022, according to official figures. The European Union has drastically reduced its imports of Russian gas following the country's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Translaton by Iurie Tataru
