Uzbekistan, Russia sign deal on gas supplies, extraction
ITAR-TASS
December 17Uzbekistan will yearly supply 10bn cubic metres of natural gas to Russia by 2005. An agreement to the effect has been signed in Tashkent between Russia's Gazprom gas giant and Uzbekneftegaz [Uzbek oil and gas company], Gazprom sources told ITAR-TASS on Tuesday [17 December].
The agreement is signed for 2003-2021. Next year Russia will get 5bn cubic metres of Uzbek natural gas. The agreement also stipulates the joint development of gas fields on production sharing terms. The first project of the sort is the development of the Shakhpakhty gas condensate field. A contract to the effect has been signed.
Uzbek President Islam Karimov received Gazprom top manager Aleksey Miller to discuss cooperation between Gazprom and the Uzbek government in the prospecting, extraction, transportation and selling of natural gas.