Page 11 - FSUOGM Week 04 2023

FSUOGM PIPELINES & TRANSPORT FSUOGM

Turkmenistan resumes gas supply

to Uzbekistan

TURKMENISTAN TURKMENISTAN restored gas supply to to Singapore to address the situation, his press
neighbouring Uzbekistan on January 21 and the office said on January 16. On January 17, the
Turkmenistan has volume has been gradually increasing, Uzbek president fired the mayor of Tashkent, Jahangir
resumed gas supply pipeline operator Uztransgaz said on January 23. Artykhodjayev, for failing to adequately prepare
to Uzbekistan after an Uzbekistan warned of supply disruptions on the city for the freezing weather. He also fired the
unexplained disruption. January 17, citing Turkmenistan’s suspension of head of a heating plant, a deputy energy minister
exports and low temperatures. It has not been and several regional governors.
disclosed whether Turkmen supplies to China, Uzbekistan had signed an import deal with
its main export market, were also affected, but Turkmenistan in mid-December to secure an
deliveries were cut to Iran. Turkmen authori- additional 1.5bn cubic metres of gas to overcome
ties have not commented on the reasons for the winter shortages. Recognising the country’s
disruption. issues this season, Russia reportedly offered last
Uzbekistan subsequently cut power supply month to reverse flow gas to Uzbekistan. But in
to Afghanistan from January 14 because of the return, Moscow is understood to have proposed
unusually cold winter weather. that Gazprom take over the Uzbek gas transmis-
Turkmenistan delivered 4.8mn cubic metres sion system, and get Uzbekistan to join a “gas
of gas to Uzbekistan on January 21 and volumes union” along with Kazakhstan.
are set to reach 16 mcm daily soon, according to Uzbekistan has also responded to the situ-
Uztransgaz. ation by suspending sales of natural gas-based
The gas and power disruptions in Uzbekistan motor fuel, which is a cheaper option than gaso-
have put pressure on the authorities. President line in the country. It has also restricted gas deliv-
Shavkat Mirziyoyev cut short an official visit eries to industrial users. ™

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