The "roadmap" signed between Uzbekistan and Gazprom envisages measures for the transit of gas from Russia via the "Central Asia-Center" gas pipeline through Kazakhstan, RIA Novosti reported, citing the Uzbek Energy Ministry.

Gazprom head Alexey Miller and Uzbek Energy Minister Zhurabek Mirzamakhmudov signed a road map for cooperation in the gas sector. "According to the signed "roadmap", the working group formed by the parties agreed on technical measures necessary for the transit of gas through the "Central Asia-Center" gas pipeline, passing through the territory of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan," reads a report in the telegram channel of the Uzbek Ministry of Energy.

According to the ministry, after the working group completes all technical work, the parties will begin discussing the basic conditions of natural gas supplies to Uzbekistan. "It should be emphasized that the negotiations and the road map were aimed at supplying natural gas to the domestic market in the necessary volumes while fully preserving the ownership of the existing gas transportation system of Uzbekistan. In this case, there is absolutely no threat to the gas transportation system and no threat to our sovereignty," the Energy Ministry added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at a meeting in the Kremlin in late November last year discussed the creation of the "Triple Gas Union" with the participation of Uzbekistan to coordinate the transportation of Russian gas through the territories of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The idea of the "triple union" at the first stage envisages the possibility of creating a coordination mechanism, possibly with a certain legal entity, but such issues still need to be discussed, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained to reporters.

Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have great potential for cooperation in the gas sphere, including the supply and processing of gas, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said.

Mirzamakhmudov said in December that Uzbekistan intends to import gas and electricity from neighboring countries on the basis of commercial contracts, not through any alliance or union. On January 18, Gazprom reported that it had signed a road map for cooperation in the gas sector with Kazakhstan.