Kazakhstan on Friday said it had discussed building a gas pipeline linking Russia and China as Moscow pivots to Asia amid conflict with the West.The pipeline could also supply regions in the expansive central Asian republic, which suffers from frequent power shortages despite its vast resources.

“Kazakhstan proposed that Gazprom consider new transit routes for Russian gas to China, taking into account gas supply to the domestic market,” a spokesperson for the national gas company QazaqGaz told AFP.

No other details were provided.

Since the West imposed a flurry of sanctions on Russia over its assault on Ukraine, Moscow has sought to accentuate its pivot towards Asia’s huge energy market.

Russian gas exports plummeted by 25 percent in 2022, but the amount of gas sent through the “Power of Siberia” pipeline to China hit record highs.

In 2024, Gazprom is planning to start building the “Power of Siberia-2” gas pipeline after the Nord Stream 2 gas link to Europe was abandoned amid the Ukraine conflict.

Moscow has also consolidated links with energy-rich Uzbekistan, which has also faced energy shortages.

Uzbekistan will start importing natural gas from Russia for the first time on March 1, authorities said.

Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov this week demanded authorities solve the problem of gasification of the northern and eastern regions of the country.

Despite the country’s resources, only just under 60 percent of the population has access to gas.

To that end, the government is also considering building a pipeline between east and west Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan backs China’s Ukraine plan before Blinken visit
Astana, Kazakhstan (AFP) Feb 25, 2023 – Russian ally Kazakhstan expressed support on Saturday for a Chinese initiative to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, days ahead of a visit by the US Secretary of State.

Kazakhstan’s foreign ministry said it welcomed China’s position “on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis”.

In a statement, the ministry said the proposal “deserves support as contributing to the cessation of bloodshed”.

Kazakhstan, which shares a 7,500 kilometre (4,660 mile) border with Russia, on Saturday also emphasised the importance of “territorial integrity” in China’s plan.

Kazakhstan is part of various military and economic alliances with Russia but has refused to support the invasion of Ukraine or recognise the Kremlin’s annexation of four Ukrainian regions.

At the same time, it has abstained or voted against UN resolutions condemning Russia.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan next week before going to New Delhi for a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting, also due to be attended by Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.

China’s 12-point paper calling for a “political settlement” of the crisis has been greeted with scepticism by Western leaders but Ukraine and Russia have expressed cautious support.

Timed to coincide with the first anniversary of Russia’s assault on Friday, the paper urges all parties to “support Russia and Ukraine in working in the same direction and resuming direct dialogue as quickly as possible”.