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Kazakhstan to Boost Russian Gas Imports Amid Domestic Demand Surge
Developing
In Short: Kazakhstan plans to increase Russian gas imports to meet rising domestic demand, according to a new agreement with Gazprom.
Kazakhstan intends to significantly increase its natural gas imports from Russia, purchasing about 11 billion cubic meters (bcm) of Russian gas this year, up from around 4 million bcm in 2025, according to a supplementary agreement with Gazprom.
The surge in domestic demand is driving Kazakhstan's decision to boost imports. Domestic production reached a record level of 68.1 bcm in 2025, but the country still faces growing internal consumption.
Uzbekistan, a neighboring country, is also experiencing a rapid decline in domestic gas production, leading to increased reliance on Russian gas imports.
The deal with Gazprom offers Kazakhstan a low-cost solution to meet its growing domestic demand without significantly impacting its export revenues.
Uzbekistan's strategy involves importing Russian gas at lower costs and exporting its own gas at higher prices, generating substantial export earnings.
In 2025, Uzbek gas exports generated about $629 million in revenue, while Russian gas imports were valued at $1.66 billion, highlighting the economic benefits of this strategy.
What this adds
This report adds details on the specific volume of gas Kazakhstan plans to import and the economic strategy behind the decision.
The sources have not established the exact timeline for when Kazakhstan will begin importing the increased volume of gas.
Background
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What's still developing
- Macron Calls for Another Emergency Oil Release as Europe Loses Supply Eurasianet is an independent news organization that covers news from and about the South Caucasus and Central Asia, providing on-the-ground reporting and critical perspectives on… Kazakhstan intends to increase natural gas imports from Russia.
- At the same time, domestic demand is surging.