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
28 April 2026
Oil traders warning of $200/bl oil are wrong, and the market should be wary of proclamations that the impact of the oil shortage has only begun to be felt and a that a ‘harsh adjustment’ is coming—even for industrialised nations
28 April 2026
Restoring supply from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Iraq involves complexities far beyond simply adjusting operational controls
28 April 2026
Datacentres will guzzle power at a ferocious rate, but the impact on wider energy markets will be far more complex than previously thought
28 April 2026
The key energy player faces balancing regional routes, political complexities, and creating a clear strategic vision for energy security
