Uzbekistan stops gas export to Russia because of pandemic

AKIPRESS.COM - Uzbekistan stopped gas export to Russia and decreased export three times to China because of COVID-19 pandemic, Prime news agency reports.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed new gas and chemical production projects, electrotechnical and pharmacy projects during video conference on July 16.
The press service stated that external markets are unstable because of pandemic influence. Gas export from Uzbekistan to China decreased three times, export to Russia stopped.
Uzbekistan will follow gas recycle and monetization way, including all natural resources, press service noted.
Uzbekistan will produce import change and export oriented goods to increase economic efficiency.
The Ministry of Energy in Uzbekistan told RIA Novosti in March that Chinese Petrochina company warned about gas import shortage because of pandemic.
According to Uzbekneftegaz JSC, Uzbekistan planned to increase gas export by 15% in 2019 compared to 2018.
The volume of supplies of Uzbek gas to China is about 10 billion cubic meters in export structure, to Russia - 4 billion cubic meters, the rest of the volume falls on the neighboring countries of Central Asia.
Gas export forecasts for the current year were not disclosed. According to official statistics, natural gas production in Uzbekistan in 2019 compared to 2018 decreased by 1.6% to 59.46 billion cubic meters. Production is planned to increase by 7.2% to 63.8 billion cubic meters this year.