Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Gas Union Plans Still Pending

Kazakhstan has not yet received any details or official proposals from the Russian authorities regarding the creation of a gas union between Kazakhstan, Russia, and Uzbekistan, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Almas Aidarov said.

• "The establishment of a gas union has been proposed by the Russian authorities, but it has not been formalized in any way. We have not yet received any proposals from the Russian authorities or details on how it will be implemented. It's still only an idea of integrating some parts of gas trade," Aidarov said.
• "So far, there is no question of creating an individual organization or union in relation to gas. It was just an idea of how to settle issues related to gas supplies and prices. There is a shortage of gas in all countries, so Russia has come up with such proposal," he said.
• Kazakhstan, Russia, and Uzbekistan were discussing the technical capabilities of their gas transport systems, but there was no talk of creating a union, Kazakh Energy Minister Bolat Akchulakov said.