Russian President Vladimir Putin with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in 2023
Russia makes gas inroads in Central Asia
Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan provide opportunities after Europe turns it back, while also offering another gateway to China
Russia could scale up gas exports to Central Asia to as much as 20bcm/yr within the next few years, taking advantage of the region’s growing supply shortfall to cushion the blow of lost revenues in Europe. Expanding energy ties with its former Soviet neighbours will also allow Russia to exert more political influence over them at a time when Moscow faces increasing international isolation over its invasion of Ukraine. It could also use the region as a route for sending more gas to China in the near term—in the absence of progress in talks with Beijing on building a second Power of Siberia pipeline. Having lost most of its market share in Europe, likely for good, Russia is scrambling to find
Also in this section
4 December 2025
Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December
3 December 2025
Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future
2 December 2025
The interplay between OPEC+, China and the US will define oil markets throughout 2026
1 December 2025
The North African producer’s first bidding round in almost two decades is an important milestone but the recent extension suggests a degree of trepidation
