Five Central Asian countries are considering a $5 billion regional gas network to strengthen energy security, improve cross-border supply and meet rising winter demand.
The proposed Central Asia Gas Ring would connect Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan through more than 3,000 kilometers of new and upgraded pipelines, with an estimated annual transportation capacity of 20 billion cubic meters (bcm).
Discussed at the second Central Asia Oil and Gas Forum in Tashkent, the project is estimated to require $2 billion for new pipelines and $3 billion for modernization and digitalization, according to its proponent, Kazakh energy expert Askar Ismailov.
The network could allow gas to flow more flexibly between countries, helping gas-importing nations meet seasonal demand while giving major producers, particularly Turkmenistan, access to additional regional markets.
