Energy and Economy

Uzbekistan and Russia Reached a Gas Deal 

The Uzbek Energy Ministry signed an agreement with Russia’s Gazprom to purchase 2.8 billion cubic meters of natural gas each year from Russia to prevent winter gas shortages. This deal will last for two years starting from October 1. This agreement sends a positive message to Russia which surpassed their expected gas sale of 6 million cubic meters annually. The gas will be pumped through the Central Asia-Center pipeline, moving flows through Kazakhstan’s pipeline segments, operated by QazaqGaz.

Source: Eurasianet 

NATO Focuses on Underwater Infrastructure in the Black Sea Amid Russian Sabotage

NATO has established a new center focused on protecting underwater pipelines and data cables following concerns that Russia may disrupt western underwater infrastructure after its attack on the Nord Stream gas pipelines. The NATO “maritime center for the security of critical underwater infrastructure” will be headquartered at NATO’s naval headquarters in Northwood near London and it will create a new surveillance system to monitor parts of the Black Sea.

Source: Caspian Barrel

Russia and Kazakhstan Agree to Extend Oil Transit Through 2033

On June 17, Russia’s Energy Minister Nikolai Shulguinov announced that during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPEIF), Russia and Kazakhstan agreed to extend their agreement on transporting Russian oil through Kazakhstan until 2033. Sulguinov noted that the volume of crude oil transported through Kazakhstan will increase up to 10 million tons per year.

Source: Prensa Latina

Poland’s Seneka Plans a $100 Million Factory in Kazakhstan

During the Kazakhstan-Poland Economic Forum in Warsaw, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Kazakhstan’s KAZAKH INVEST and Poland’s SENEKA to construct a $100 million fish feed factory in Kazakhstan. 

Source: Kazakh Invest

Security and Policy

Azerbaijan Places More Travel Restrictions on Iran

On June 16, the Iranian Embassy in Baku announced that Azerbaijan will stop issuing visas at Azerbaijan’s airports for Iranian citizens, starting on June 23. This means Iranian citizens will have to apply through Azerbaijan’s diplomatic missions in Iran, or through Azerbaijan’s E-Visa Website. 

Source: Tehran Times

Supreme Leader of Iran Emphasizes Potential for Increased Cooperation with Uzbekistan in Recent Meeting

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirzyoyev met Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran on June 18. This meeting marked the first time an Uzbek President has made a visit to Iran in over 20 years. According to Khamenei, he hopes their cooperation can “extend beyond trade and transportation...We can have further collaboration through various initiatives in the fields of science, technology, and other sectors.” He added that after years of “limited” bilateral relations, he hopes that Mirzyoyev's visit “will mark the beginning of a better future for the two nations’ relations.”

Source: Caspian News 

Sources: Caspian Barrel, Caspian News, Eurasianet, Prensa Latina, Tehran Times, Upstream Online