Uzbekistan Plan to Increase Gas Exports by 25 pc This Year

Uzbekistan plans to increase its natural gas exports by 25 per cent this year to 15 billion cubic meters, Trend news agency reported.

The report said that Uzbekistan almost doubled its gas exports in the first quarter of this year compared with same period last year - to nearly 35 million cubic meters per day. The country plans to maintain this trend for the whole of this year.

The growth in gas exports will be achieved through supplies to Russia, which accounts for about 90 percent of supplies, as well as to China.

In June 2010, Uzbekneftegaz and CNPC signed a framework agreement for the sale of natural gas of up to 10 billion cubic meters a year.

Natural gas will be transported via Central Asia - China gas pipeline.